A Consideration of Honorific Language as Viewed by Korean Learners of Japanese
Authors:   Asia-Europe Perspective Association, Chiemi Fujiwara Chiemi Fujiwara 
Published: June 2018

With approximately 960,000 South Koreans studying Japanese as of 2009, they comprise 26.4% of the total number of all learners of Japanese as a second language, more than any other nationality (The Japan Foundation, 2009). For Korean learners of Japanese, the similarities in the structure of Japanese—vocabulary and grammar, etc.—with their native Korean are factors that further their language acquisition. However, it is not uncommon for Korean learners of Japanese to find the characteristics of Japanese communication involving speech levels, particularly honorific language, to be difficult. Although the Korean language has also developed a system of honorific language, it has many disparities with the structure and usage of Japanese honorific language. In addition, differences in normative consciousnesses regarding honorific language are considered to possibly be a frequent trigger for miscommunication. This paper considers the influence that their view of honorific language has upon Korean learners of Japanese with regard to their selection of speech levels when communicating with Japanese people. While much research in which qualitative studies were conducted on consciousness pertaining to Japanese honorific language has already been done, there has been little research with aqual it ative examination focusing on Japanese language learners’ consciousness of honorific language. Through quantit ative research alone, it is difficult to gain acomprehensive understanding of aspects of “consciousness,” which change due to the influence of various contributing factors. Therefore, this paper will utilize the Analysisof Personal Attitude Construct(below, PAC analysis), which inrecent years has come to be used as a psychological approach to analyzing Japanese language education, to examine Korean learners’ of Japanese consciousness pertaining to the view and usage of honorific language.
A survey was conducted from August 2009 to January 2011 in Japan and South Korea. The survey respondents were four intermediate to advanced Korean speakers of Japanese, each of whom had studied in Japan. The survey followed the PAC analysis format with “What is your image of honorific language and its usage?” as the stimulus term.
The results of the analysis will be given below. Sixty-six free association items were found in dendrograms of respondents’ answers. Overall, they showed a positive view of honorific language with 42 items for a “positive image,” 10 for a “negative image,” and 14 for “neither.” The first common characteristic among respondents was the appearance of the two items: “manners,” and “feeling of distance.” From the appearance of these two items in all of the respondents’ answers, it can be understood that, for verbal communication, honorific language is an important means of showing politeness and that respondents are aware that it has a function of maintaining and adjusting the degree of intimacy and psychological distance between speakers. In terms of the “feeling of distance,” there was also mention of the advantageousness of honorific language for keeping a comfortable level of distance, thus, respondents did not necessarily evaluate “feeling of distance” to be a negative thing.
The second common characteristic of the free association items was a strongly positive image of users of honorific language. In presentations or in business, there was a shared impression among respondents of honorific language users being professional, disciplined workers who get the job done, belong to a higher class, and have refinement. The view of honorific language that emerged among respondents is clearly connected to an impression of its users as being intelligent and sophisticated. Furthermore, it was confirmed that respondents view honorific language use as a sense and skill for language and that correct usage of honorific language in communication situations connotes sociolinguistic