STYLE VARIATION IN JAPANESE CONVERSATION : ITS REALITY AND EFFECT

本研究以语篇为基础，对日语会话中的礼貌进行分析。本研究证实了B.Hill et al.（1986）和Ide（1989）所提出的日语礼貌中的辨别（wakimae）方面。Brown & Levinson（1987）试图在Goffman（1967）提出的面子概念的基础上建立一个普遍的礼貌理论。这一礼貌理论受到了批评，尤其是那些研究包含系统的敬语系统的语言的语言学家（参见松本（1988，1989），Ide（1989），Ide等（1992），Gu（1990），Mao（1994））。这些批评在直觉上是可以理解的，但基于数据的支持是必要的，这样它们才更有说服力。因此，本研究分析了不同社会阶层的人之间的三种不同类型的十八次对话，观察这些对话，发现日语对话中的礼貌是通过表达自己的洞察力来实现的。辨别力被认为是日语礼貌的基础，原因有二：1）辨别力必须由谈话中的每一个人来表达; 2）恰当地使用策略取决于辨别力。从这些观察中得出的一个结论是，一个全面的语言礼貌理论除了包括语言使用的意志和可变方面之外，还需要包括语言使用的社会制约方面。

This study is a discourse-based analysis of politeness in Japanese conversation. The study confirms the aspect of wakimae (discernment) in Japanese politenss which has been presented by B.Hill et al. (1986) and Ide (1989).Brown ＆ Levinson (1987) attempted to establish a universal politeness theory based on the notion of face presented by Goffman (1967). This politeness theory has been criticized especially by linguists who study languages which include systematic honorific systems (cf. Matsumoto (1988, 1989), Ide (1989), Ide et al. (1992), Gu (1990), Mao (1994)). These criticisms are intuitionally understandable, but data-based support is necessary so that they can be more persuasive. This study, therefore, analyses eighteen conversations, of three distinct types, between people of different social levels.Observations of these conversations reveal that politeness in Japanese conversation is achieved by expressing one's discernment. Discernment is considered to be the base of Japanese politeness for two reasons : 1) Discernment must be expressed by every member of the conversation, and 2) Appropriate use of strategies depends on discernment.One conclusion from these observations is that a comprehensive theory of linguistic politeness needs to include socially conditioned aspects of language use in addition to volitional and variable aspects.