Language Differences In Japanese Language

Spoken gendered language differences are common worldwide, whether or not the differences are explicitly marked (Tsujimura, 2007). Traditionally, scholars in the fields of Japanese linguistics have claimed that there exists a very clear divide between the spoken linguistic ideals of women’s language (joseigo) and men’s language (danseigo). Although slight differences between Japanese male and female speech has been documented since around the 8th century, it was not until the 14th century in which a distinctly separate gendered category was observed with the beginning of nyoubō kotoba, which is the language of the court ladies (Spiridon, 2014). There has been a distinction not simply between male and female spoken Japanese, but also within

These words all either possess feminine and masculine semantic differences, with the feminine linguistic characteristic fitting into the politer and gentler speech type. Even without using gender-specific language devices such as the examples above, there still exists a social norm within Japan that suggests that Japanese women should adopt a gentle, polite linguistic form whilst male speech can allow for more “blunt” forms of speech (Jorden, 1987). This social norm acts as a restraint not only to Japanese women, but also to Japanese men as well. And although these characteristics can and do often occur in within conversation, they are not a necessary component. Its role as a social norm implicates the expectation that men and women both follow the expected speech behaviours pertaining to their own gender, but as a norm, it merely outlines how society says one should act or speak, not how one must. As such, there are instances in which the Japanese gendered speech roles are not adhered