Abstract
In this study, the expansion process of so-called "beautifying words" incorporating "o-" is analyzed. This study was based on a questionnaire survey designed to investigate the use of "female words" and "beautifying words" incorporating "o-". It confirmed that differences in usage according to gender were large, and that there was variation according to situation and style. In addition, words with "o-" were analyzed in relation to the user's age, gender, and the addressee (junior or senior, near or distant) by using scattergrams which allowed the visualization of two elements on one graph. The results were interpreted as a continuum of linguistic change. The process of the mutation increasing during the change can be explained by the "Lens model". Words with "o-" are distributed continuously from those with a low usage rate to those of high usage rate. Using this as a clue, it was possible to consider the synchrony of the word increasing one-dimensionally as the reflection of a long historical process. For example, the study showed that women began to put "o-" on some words which can be seen as "excessive o-", while men tended to use original "honorific expressions" conventionally. Women gradually increased this type of usage and it expanded so that these expressions became thought of as "female words". Finally men also began to use these words so that they then became established as "beautifying words". The process of a weakening in the gender gap and style differences was seen again. On the basis of this process, the following change can be explained. When "o-" adhering to a certain word becomes natural, the "o-" can be attached to the word twice (excessively). In this paper the cyclic process of "o-" is advocated.
