Language Variation: Focus on Uses

Example 9 When he first visited Tokyo, Neil found his Japanese was fi ne for reading and for talking to other young men of his own age, but in any other interactions he found himself floundering. He knew that he needed to express the appropriate degree of respect to his hosts, and to the various business contacts he was introduced to. Yet his control of the complex system of Japanese styles and honorifics was not yet good enough. He struggled along in a ‘basic’ or ‘plain’ style, occasionally inserting features of ‘polite’ style, and frustrated that the subtleties of Japanese interpersonal interaction seemed beyond him. (Inove, Kyoko, 1979).

• Example 10
• Boss : Good morning Sue. Lovely day.
• Secretary : Yes it’s beautiful. Makes you wonder what we’re doing here doesn’t it.
• Boss : Mm, that’s right. Look I wonder if you could possibly sort this lot out by ten. I need them for a meeting.
• Secretary : Yes sure. No problem.
• Boss : Thanks that’s great.

This dialogue is typical of many everyday interactions in that it serves both an affective (or social) function and a referential (or informative) function. The initial greetings and comments on the weather serve a predominantly social function; they establish rapport between the two participants. The exchange then moves on to become more information-oriented or referential in function, though the social function of constructing an appropriate level of rapport and respect is still relevant.

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