earticle

영어

This study aims at investigating the usage of｢~(sa)seteitadaku｣in the Budget Deliberation Committee of the National Assembly of Japan to determine the extent of it’s over-use. The research results show that this expression has been extended from its “original usage” for gratitude or permission or humbling oneself to “extended usage”, and also to “usage requiring further analysis” which is termed mis-use. This study specifies two factors as the causes for the extended usage of ｢~(sa)seteitadaku｣. Firstly, the peculiarity of the National Assembly as the place of articulation, where consideration of listeners counts important. Secondly, the confusion of ｢~(sa)seteitadaku｣with ｢itasu｣or with other more formal honorifics. In short, the over-use of ｢~(sa)seteitadaku｣is ascribed to the psychological attitude of the speaker to show his/her politeness by speaking as if he/she needs permission from the listener when the permission is not necessary.