ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the nature of Japanese honorifics and introduces certain strategies in the honorific world that are quite different from English strategies. Regarding the nature of honorifics, the following points are addressed:
(1) Honorifics function only as the “indexing” of a social or psychological distance. They neither inherently possess “honorific” features, nor contribute to the semantic content of an utterance. Only when the measurement of distance from the other is appropriate, honorific use is considered “polite”. To be precise, honorifics are “markings” (honorific markings) on what has already been constructed strategically. Therefore, honorific expressions present a double layer of the linguistic architecture: strategically structured units and honorific markings on them.
(2) Honorifics are not a set of static or conventionally fixed rules. Their dynamic and fluid changes at each moment of the ongoing interaction generate a variety of pragmatic effects. The speaker may manipulate honorifics in accordance with the nature of each situational moment, which enhances the speaker’s intention and emotion to further achieve politeness to the other interactant.
Concerning politeness strategies in the world of honorifics (I call them “honorific strategies”), I opt for a few examples that are quite contrastive with English strategies. Honorific strategies are in many ways devised by considering one’s tachiba (literally standing-place: social position, status, responsibility, task). When one’s tachiba is strongly recognized, it is given priority to the consideration of “face-threatening acts” (FTAs), and entailed in strategic planning, which is typically the way in which English strategies are constructed.
