The Lack of Shiten (Speaker's Empathy) in the Humble Word Uyoohun of the Miyara Dialect in South Ryukyuan

Abstract

The honorific system in the Miyara dialect is different from that in common Japanese. The humble word uyoohun has almost the same meaning as sashiageru in common Japanese. Basically, a speaker elevates the receiver to a higher position. Uyoohun has no shiten (speaker's empathy), so it does not have a ninshouseiyaku (personal restriction), unlike common Japanese, which does have the function of lowering the position of the giver. Because of this lack of shiten, uyoohun can position a giver as being equal in status to the receiver. This means uyoohun also has the function of elevating the giver. However, this function is weak, so I call this “the function of light respect for the giver.” In common Japanese, sashiageru cannot be used when the status of the receiver is lower or equal to that of the speaker, because the speaker is showing his or her respect for the receiver. However, uyoohun can be used in that relationship, but only if the receiver is of higher rank than the giver. I call this “the function of giving direction priority.” Even if the receiver includes the first person, uyoohun is allowed as long as the giving direction—from the lower giver to the higher receiver—is acknowledged. It is also prohibited to honor the first person in the Miyara dialect, as is true in common Japanese. But the first person is positioned in the hierarchy by age, so if the receiver is in a position of relatively higher status than the giver, the honor for the first person tends to be ignored. This is unacceptable in common Japanese because of the concept of self-honor.

Furthermore uyoohoorun, which is a compound word combining uyoohun with the suffix oorun, is used as an honorific word. Uyoohoorun positions both the giver and receiver as being of a higher rank. Even if the receiver includes the first person, uyoohoorun is allowed because the giver is placed very high, and one of the receivers is worthy of respect, so the honor for the first person can be ignored. I call this honorific rule “priority for the higher ranking person.”