earticle

영어

This study systematically examines the fictive use of the Japanese kinship terms onee-san(“older sister”) and onii-san(“older brother”). These kinship terms function as linguistic tools that extend beyond their literal meanings, adjusting the relationship between the speaker and listener and assigning social roles. Based on Suzuki’s(1973) classification, this study categorizes fictive kinship usage into two types: the first type, where the speaker constructs a hypothetical kinship relationship with the listener from their own perspective, and the second type, where the speaker adopts the perspective of the listener or a third party to use kinship terms. Furthermore, this study introduces a new perspective, the transformation of fictive kinship usage, to explore patterns of kinship term usage that cannot be fully explained by existing frameworks. By applying frame theory, this study demonstrates how kinship terms contribute to the adjustment of interpersonal relationships and the formation of social roles. Through this research, it has been shown that the use of kinship terms in Japanese is not merely an expression of blood relations but is deeply connected to social and cultural contexts.