Beautifying the language
In these days, people who live all over the world talk about Japan.
Japan is currently experiencing apparently the hardest time ever since
the World War II.
Japanese, perhaps more than any other language, has long taken
account of social standing. While French speakers must decide between
the familiar “tu” and the formal “vous” in addressing someone in the
second person, in Japanese, there are many ways to say I or you,
calibrated by age, circumstance, gender, social position and other
factors. Verb endings, adjectives and entire words also shift according
to the situation.
Honorifics in Japanese are broadly referred to as keigo ( literally,
respectful language), and fall under three main categories such as
respectful language, humble language (or “modest language”) and polite
language. Linguistically, the former two are referent honorifics, used
for someone being talked about, and the last is an addressee honorific,
used for someone being talked to. Sometimes two more categories are also
used, for five categories total: “courteous language” and “word
beautification”, but more often these are included in the above three.
Each type of speech has its own vocabulary and verb endings.
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Japanese
are careful about language |
Television presenters invariably use polite language, and it is the
form of the language first taught to most non-native learners of
Japanese. Respectful language is a special form or alternate word used
when talking about superiors and customers. It is not used to talk about
oneself. The respectful version of language can only be used to refer to
others.
In general, respectful language is directed at those in positions of
power; for example, a superior at work, or a customer. It also implies
that the speaker is acting in a professional capacity. In general,
humble language is used when describing one’s actions or the actions of
a person in one’s in-group to others such as customers in business.
Humble language tends to imply that one’s actions are taking place in
order to assist the other person.
Word beautification is the practice of making words more polite or
“beautiful”. This form of language is employed by the speaker to add
refinement to one’s manner of speech. Depending on the situation,
women’s speech may contain more honorifics than men’s.
Although the honorifics add colour to Japanese language, in modern
days, they have thought of it as an extra burden. While businesses which
are involved in direct customer sales such as convenience stores and
fast food outlets train their employees how to use honorifics correctly,
others seem to be trying hard to get rid of it. Modern Japanese people
think that it creates a transparent wall between two individuals in
terms of productive communication. It is believed to be caused
unnecessary issues over human relationships.
Many Japanese companies, traditionally divided rigidly by age and
seniority, have dropped the use of titles to create a more open and,
they hope, competitive culture. The shift also mirrors profound changes
in Japanese society, experts say. Equality-minded parents no longer
emphasize honorific language to their children, and most schools no
longer expect children to use honorific language to their teachers. As a
result, young Japanese have a poor command of honorific language and do
not feel compelled to use it.
For many older Japanese, the decline of the honorific form amounted
to losing the deep beauty of their language and the coarsening of the
social culture.
Although I have not used my Japanese nearly two decades, I am happy
that I was able to learn that beautiful language. For such a courageous
nation like Japan, resurrection upon destruction is not an impossible
task; it is only a matter of time.
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