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Article published In: Pragmatics and Society
Vol. 11:4 (2020) ► pp.505–523

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Maji ssu ka? Isn’t that honorific?

Ambiguity of New Japanese honorific ssu

 | Macquarie University
 | Macquarie University
 | Macquarie University | Osaka Prefectural Semboku Senior High School
Published online: 20 November 2020
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https://doi.org/10.1075/ps.16002.aka
Abstract
Japanese honorifics used by younger generations are dynamic sites of tensions and discrepancies due to disagreeable conceptions and interpretations among different generations and social groups. It has become a social issue in modern Japanese society often described as keigo no midare ‘disorder in honorific’. This article examines the increased use of ssu by young Japanese speakers as a substitution of the polite form copular desu. This honorific expression plays a role as a relatively new polite form to convey ambivalent emotions to express respect and concurrently their desire to seek affinity and engagement. By analysing Japanese fictions, popular cultures and online-blog comments on the use of ssu, we demonstrate diversity in the social perception of this new honorific.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Derivation of New Japanese honorific ssu
  • 3.Intimacy in the expression ssu
  • 4.Identity of new honorific ssu users
  • 5.Linguistic ideology and social criticisms in new honorific ssu
  • 6.Conclusions
  • Notes
  • References
References (49)
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