2000 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary
STYLE VARIATION IN JAPANESE CONVERSATION : ITS REALITY AND EFFECT
| Project/Area Number |
10680309
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
Japanese language education
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| Research Institution | KYUSHU UNIVERSITY |
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Principal Investigator |
MATSUMURA Yoshiko KYUSHU UNIVERSITY, Institute of Languages and Cultures, Ass.Prof., 大学院・言語文化研究院, 助教授 (80156463)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
CHINAMI Kyoko KYUSHU UNIVERSITY, The International Student Center, Ass.Prof., 留学生センター, 助教授 (60217239)
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| Project Period (FY) |
1998 – 2000
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| Keywords | DISCERNMENT / POLITENESS STRATEGY / DISCOURSE ANALYSIS |
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| Research Abstract |
This study is a discourse-based analysis of politeness in Japanese conversation. The study confirms the aspect of wakimae (discernment) in Japanese politenss which has been presented by B.Hill et al. (1986) and Ide (1989).
Brown ＆ Levinson (1987) attempted to establish a universal politeness theory based on the notion of face presented by Goffman (1967). This politeness theory has been criticized especially by linguists who study languages which include systematic honorific systems (cf. Matsumoto (1988, 1989), Ide (1989), Ide et al. (1992), Gu (1990), Mao (1994)). These criticisms are intuitionally understandable, but data-based support is necessary so that they can be more persuasive. This study, therefore, analyses eighteen conversations, of three distinct types, between people of different social levels.
Observations of these conversations reveal that politeness in Japanese conversation is achieved by expressing one's discernment. Discernment is considered to be the base of Japanese politeness for two reasons : 1) Discernment must be expressed by every member of the conversation, and 2) Appropriate use of strategies depends on discernment.
One conclusion from these observations is that a comprehensive theory of linguistic politeness needs to include socially conditioned aspects of language use in addition to volitional and variable aspects.
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