依頼場面における丁寧表現の使用／不使用に影響する要因の分析 ―日本人と韓国人の比較を通して―

Abstract

This paper sheds light on the preferences and perceptions of polite/non‐polite expressions by Japanese and Korean by analyzing the data obtained from a questionnaire survey. The questionnaire consists of question items concerning the preferences and perceptions of polite/non‐polite expressions in eight hypothetical scenes constructed from a combination of the participants' roles (addresser/addressee), their familiarity, and whether the language they speak is native or not, and general perceptions for polite/non‐polite expressions and honorifics, while their relationship with respect to age and when they join the company being the same. The obtained results of the analysis are summarized as follows. (1)Korean/Japanese preferences towards the use of polite/non‐polite expressionsBinominal test is applied to the preference of polite/non‐polite expressions. Both Korean and Japanese prefer polite expressions when they are requested to photocopy the papers for business. More Korean choose non‐polite expressions when they request a familiar native friend in the company to photocopy the papers, while more Japanese select non‐polite expressions when they request familiar native/non‐native company friend. (2)Korean/Japanese perceptions on polite/non‐polite expressionsCorrelation ratio is calculated between the preference of polite/non‐polite expressions and the perceptions of the expression such as briefness, naturalness, friendliness, and politeness. Naturalness, friendliness, and politeness are associated with the selection of the expressions for Korean; mainly naturalness for Japanese. Korean seem to decide on the use of the polite/non‐polite expressions with multiple perspectives than Japanese. (3)General perceptions for polite/non‐polite expressions and honorificsBinominal test is used to examine the judgment on the use of polite/non‐polite expressions and honorifics. Both Korean and Japanese think that non‐politeness expressions should be used for close friends, while more Korean recognize that non‐polite expressions lessen psychological distance to the other and polite expressions can be a hindrance to amicable relations than Japanese. Both Korean and Japanese consider the proper use of honorifics necessary for non‐natives; Korean do not care non‐natives' misuse of honorifics, but feel uncomfortable for their inappropriate use of honorifics than Japanese. In summary, the use of non‐polite expressions is recognized to be allowed between familiar friends in Korean and Japanese. However, Korean think this condition more rigid and thus feel more discomfort for the use of non‐polite expressions by unfamiliar friends than Japanese. Although this study does not examine all factors underlying the use of polite/non‐polite expression for Korean and Japanese, it sheds light on the reasons for improper use of non‐polite expressions.