ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses prior research on emotion and affective stance from the perspective of language socialization. It then turns to an analysis of Japanese socialization by focusing on empathy training in which adults put into words what others (e.g., toys, animals, people) may be feeling or wanting. It argues that socialization of empathy is intricately tied to social actions, including learning to predict and read others’ needs, wants, and feelings in order to structure one’s behavior and respond accordingly. It shows how this socialization relies not only on verbal resources but also on the embodied and material environment.
