Transcending the senpai ‘senior’/kōhai ‘junior’ boundary through cross-speaker repetition in Japanese
SaekoMachi
Rikkyo University
Abstract
This study explores the role of cross-speaker repetition in creating interpersonal connections between interactants in Japanese. The analysis focuses on Japanese non-reciprocal conversations between senpai ‘senior’ and kōhai ‘junior’ interactants, where the kōhai are normatively expected to speak using the honorific desu/masu markers. The analysis demonstrates that in such conversations, the kōhai sometimes drop the honorific markers while repeating the senpai’s utterances, thereby momentarily transcending the vertical boundary separating them from the senpai. Two types of plain form repetition are presented: (1) the kōhai repeat the senpai’s funny and/or questionable comments to savor the expressions, and (2) the kōhai repeat the senpai’s ideas, wishes or assessments to synchronize with the senpai. The analysis explicates how cross-speaker repetition allows the kōhai to drop the honorific markers in a way that is acceptable to the senpai. This study underscores the significance of the cross-speaker repetition device for creating harmonious relationships in Japanese.
Repeating the utterances of another speaker, or cross-speaker repetition, is one of the linguistic practices commonly seen in Japanese conversations. Japanese speakers repeat each other’s utterances not only to engage in verbal play but also to perform various interactive behaviors that involve dynamically adjusting the interpersonal closeness between speakers (Machi 2019, 2021). In fact, the act of repeating another’s utterances is a much more versatile practice than it seems, and there is more to be revealed about this device to better understand how Japanese speakers engage in conversation.
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