Tessa Carroll
Beyond keigo: smooth communication and the expression of respect in Japanese as a Foreign Language
For foreign learners of Japanese, keigo
(honorific language) is one of the most difficult aspects of the language.
However, since the early 1990s, sociolinguistic research placing keigo
in a much broader context of politeness and respect has been incorporated in
writings on honorific language produced by official bodies such as the National
Language Research Institute and the National Language Deliberative Council. The
new approach takes a much broader idea of ‘‘expressions of respect’’, and
emphasizes the role played by respect in ensuring that ‘‘communication
progresses smoothly / harmoniously’’ (komy?nikeeshon ga enkatsu ni
susumu), while deemphasizing hierarchy, relative status and power as
determining factors in keigo usage. Recent research in this area has
also investigated changes in honorific language usage linked to social changes.
JFL teaching needs to take account of these shifts. This paper examines the
treatment of honorific language in some English-language JFL textbooks against
this background, and makes some suggestions for dealing with politeness and
respect in JFL teaching.
International Journal of the Sociology of Language, Walter de Gruyter
Print ISSN: 0165-2516
Volume: 2005, 11/2005
Pages: 233 - 247
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