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A Study on the Use of Second-Person Pronouns of yūjo : Focusing on ‘Shunshokuumegoyomi’ and ‘Shunshokuta tsuminosono’

  • JAPAN SPACE
  • 2024, (35), pp.185-211
  • Publisher : The Institute of Japanese Studies
  • Research Area : Social Science > Area Studies
  • Received : May 18, 2024
  • Accepted : May 29, 2024
  • Published : June 30, 2024

Min, Seunghee 1

1중원대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

This paper examines the second-person pronouns used by yūjo in the late medieval period in Ninjobon ‘Shunshokuumegoyomi’ and ‘Shunshokutatsuminoso.’ This study focuses on the types of second-person pronouns used by yūjos, the relationship between speakers and listeners, the politeness level of corresponding verbs, and the first-person pronouns used in conversation. First, yūjos primarily used the pronoun 「おまはん」 when addressing male guests. However, female joruri narrators working in the entertainment district used 「おまはん」 for guests, while female hairdressers used 「おまへさん」, showing a difference in usage. When yūjos conversed with each other, they used either 「おまはん」 or 「おまへ」. Additionally, when expressing criticism toward someone, they sometimes used 「おめへ」. We could not find examples of yūjos using the pronoun 「あなた」 to express high respect toward male guests. Instead, the yūjo’s second-person pronoun system appears relatively simple system. While both 「おまへさん」 and 「おまはん」 show similar politeness levels in terms of corresponding verbs, 「おまへ」 tends to be less polite when paired with less polite verbs.

Citation status

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