JAPANESE WOMEN’S SPEECH: AN EXAMPLE OF CHARM AND WIT
JAPANESE WOMEN’S SPEECH: AN EXAMPLE OF CHARM AND WIT

Summary/Abstract: Differences between male and female speech styles have been reported in different languages. Japanese Women’s Speech is thought to be a clearly defined subset of the Japanese language as a whole. Women’s language (joseigo- 女性語) is held up as the ideal form of female communication, as men’s language (danseigo-男性後) is for males. I aim to exemplify the way in which Japanese women speakers are conscious of the effects of their speech style and utilize the appropriate forms, as consistent with the goals they wish to accomplish and the corresponding identities they wish to create. This style of speech is connected with tradition and culture and is seen as “uniquely Japanese” indicative of the charm and wit of the Japanese woman.

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