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Honorific prefixes in Japanese language during infancy

정정미 1

1甲南大 非常勤講師

Accredited

ABSTRACT

In this study we first defined various terms pertaining to the language of infants. Next we broke down infant languages into ``toddler language’’ and ``preschooler language’’ according to the children’s developmental stages, and then observed the honorific prefixes ``at the stage of toddler’’ and ``at the stage of preschooler.’’ Further, we also looked at “infant language” as a whole, which appeared repetitively through the stages of toddler and preschooler. The ``toddler language’’ is initiated by mothers and almost one-sidedly influenced by mothers. This language is not toddlers’ spontaneous speech, but represents the attitude of adults to their children. On the other hand, the ``preschooler language’’, more specifically the use of honorific prefixes at the stage of preschool children, is a diverted form of the honorific prefixes of adults. These honorific prefixes in the ``preschooler language’’ have interactivity between ``speakers’’ and ``listeners’’ and, although not entirely deprived of dignity or decency found in the honorific prefixes of adults, are rather characterized as ``gentleness’’, ``softness’’, ``infancy’’, or ``immaturity.’’ These ``toddler language’’, ``preschooler language’’ and `` infant language’’ become abandoned by the stage of school child and each of them shows some discontinuity but some part of them transitions into child language, and eventually into adult language.

Citation status

* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.