> I know already that "-masu" verbs are used in polite situations, but > also certain pronouns and names of people are used as well. For > example, to refer to one's own mother "haha" is used, but another's > is referred to as "Okaasan".
I live in Japan (Osaka, specifically), and I've found that the ultra-polite language that is taught in textbooks is hardly ever used. One time I asked my Japanese girlfriend what the answer to a textbook question about honorific language was, and she said she had no idea, because no one she knows talks like that. Also, in most situations it sounds perfectly natural to refer to your own mother as "okaasan." > Finally, although a bit off-topic, in Japanese society a foreigner > is certainly an "outsider", so I was wondering how this would affect > his/her choice of language style. Considering again the social > distinction factor, although young children are normally spoken to > in direct language, would a foreigner have to use "humble" lanuage > in speaking to a child? It is not rude for a foreigner to use the same level of politeness that a Japanese would typically use in the same situation. I have found though that I often get laughed at when I use words from the Osaka dialect, such as "senaakan," "dekihen," or "shirankatta," even though the people who laugh at me use those phrases themselves all the time. Aaron ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Get fast access to your favorite Yahoo! Groups. Make Yahoo! your home page http://us.click.yahoo.com/dpRU5A/wUILAA/yQLSAA/9rHolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Japanese_Language/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
