Historical Sociolinguistic analysis of Politeness in Japanese language

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K00510
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 02060:Linguistics-related
• Research Institution: Japan Women's University
• Principal Investigator: TANABE Kazuko 日本女子大学, 文学部, 教授 (60188357)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 井上 史雄 東京外国語大学, その他部局等, 名誉教授 (40011332) ; 柳村 裕 国際医療福祉大学, 国際交流センター, 助教 (50748275)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 丁寧体 / 「です」 / 「ます」 / 対者敬語

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study examined the expanded use of the simplified form '-ssu'of the polite form of 'desu'from quesionnaires and the internet. The results showed that men in their 20s were highly receptive to the ungrammatical form 'verb+ssu'(eg.iku-ssu(to go),(taberu-ssu(to eat))as well as 'adjective +ssu'(eg.ii-ssu(to be good), yasui-ssu(to be cheap)), 'noun+ssu'(eg.gakusei-ssu (to be a student), ninjin-ssu(to be a carrot))which are grammatically correct.The growing use of 'verb+ssu'indicates the decline of the polite form'masu', which is to be connected to a verb conugated form. Among women in their 20s, the use of 'verb+desu'can be seen on the internet and elsewhere. This is a case of trying to express familiarity and closeness towards one' seniors'senpai'. Thus, the transfer from 'masu' to 'desu'could be inferred as a sign of change in the Japanese language.

Free Research Field

社会言語学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、長期的視野に立って日本語の変化を社会言語学的観点から考察することを目的とする。言語変化から社会の変化を理解し、日本の未来像を考える貴重な材料となる。言語変化の大きな特徴としては、言語的合理性の追求が挙げられる。より無駄のないように、言葉の言語形態が整えられていく過程が考察できる。このような通時的言語研究は、共時的言語研究では得られない、言語の本質を探求できる学術的意義は大きい。