Honorifics in Japanese

1. Honorifics in Japanese Jennifer Berman Nov. 30, 2011 JAPN 306

2. The Japanese language has a complex system of honorifics known as keigo (敬語). • There are three classes of keigo: sonkeigo (respectful language), kenjougo (humble language), and teineigo(polite language). • Which type of keigo to use depends on your relationship to the person you are talking with and on the situation. Japanese Honorific Language

3. Sonkeigo is used to show respect for a person who is of a higher rank than you (for instance, superiors at work). • It isn’t used to refer to your own actions. • An example of a sentence in sonkeigo: (Tsujimura 363) 「先生、明日の会議にいらっしゃいますか？」 Sensei, ashita no kaiginiirasshaimasuka? “Are you going to the conference tomorrow, sensei?” • In this sentence, irasshaimasu(irassharu) is the sonkeigo equivalent of iku (to go). • Some other sonkeigo verbs include goranninaru (to see), kudasaru (to give), and meshiagaru (to eat/to drink). Examples of Keigo

4. Kenjougo is used to humble the speaker or his/her in-group in front of the hearer, who is of a higher rank and to be respected (Tsujimura 363). • Unlike sonkeigo, kenjougo is only used for the speaker’s own actions. • An example of kenjougo: 「事務所へ参ります。」 Jimusho e mairimasu. “I will go to the office.” • In this sentence, mairimasu is the kenjougoequivalent of iku (to go). • Some other kenjougo verbs include o-me nikakaru (to meet), haikensuru (to see), and itasu (to do). Examples of Keigo

5. Teineigoverbs use the ending –masu, and the copula (“to be”) in teineigo is desu. • The honorific prefixes o- and go- are commonly placed before names of objects. • Teineigocan be used to refer to either the speaker or the hearer, and thus is used when a conversation is normal, but doesn’t require the use of kenjougo or sonkeigo(Tsujimura 363). Examples of Keigo

6. Japan is a hierarchical and collectivist society, where knowing one’s “place” in the group is important (Lebra 67-68) • This is reflected in the use of keigo and its different forms. • Most notable are the different verbs for giving and receiving things: Keigo’s Role in Society

7. Aside from paying respect, keigo can be used in other ways, for instance when the speaker doesn’t want to hurt another’s feelings, or to show off his/her educational background (Kurokawa 18) • In other words, it can be used as “a lubricant (junkatsuyu) to facilitate human relations in society” (Kurokawa 18) • Women’s speech (onnakotoba) traditionally uses more honorific expressions than men’s speech, particularly extensive use of the prefixes o- and go-. Keigo’s Role in Society

8. In prewar Japan, one of the most important objectives in moral education was to “inculcate the awareness of rank distinction [and] respect for superiors and elders,” and elaborate forms of keigo, including a form used only to talk about the emperor, were taught in schools (Lebra 71). • Postwar education does not seem to place much emphasis on keigo(Lebra 71) Modern Usage of Keigo

9. Keigo is still considered important in business situations • A lot of Japanese people make mistakes in it, and wish they could use it better (Wetzel 134) • Keigo how-to manuals are very popular (Wetzel 117) Modern Usage of Keigo