Japanese Pronouns: An Introduction

[@Yuletide_3535]

Your channel is brilliant, what a find!

[@RiccardoGabarriniKazeatari]

For many students the use of certain pronouns with the polite/plain form can be "unexpected" (being contrary to what it's usually taught). For instance, a 後輩 who uses 俺 when speaking with his 先輩 from work. Or the director of a company using 私 together with the plain form (and くん and 君 for his subordinates). I've always found these examples very useful because they tell us a lot about formality and politeness, and many (of my) students (at least) struggle with the difference between these two concepts

[@水仙-k5r]

very interesting and helpful, thanks!

[@lovewhenshe]

Okkkkk one of the rsre times i find out bout a channel and get excited bout checking out their other vids i got no complaints bout any of urs ive seen so far

[@RiccardoGabarriniKazeatari]

Very nice comprehensive video! I've always felt that even though technically they're not pronouns, こちら, そちら, あちら should be taught more often, and sooner... Maybe it can be a good idea for a video?

[@scriptingjapan5279]

@@RiccardoGabarriniKazeatari I actually don't like teaching them early because the students don't have the politeness levels to match, it sounds awkward.

[@wilfweNightsky]

If I'm understanding correctly, the -itsu part is like "- thing". Then the ko-so-a from kore and asoko. So calling a person koitsu is like saying "this thing" which definitely feels rude

[@GameFuMaster]

I like 我. It's used in Chinese, and can be used as われ or 我が

[@yurironoue5888]

You left out 妾, Warawa; which is my favourite!

[@scriptingjapan5279]

@@yurironoue5888 are you a scarecrow??? (is straw joke)

[@yotta11]

そちら is becoming 2nd person pronoun instead of あなた. What I find interesting is, あなた was a kind of こそあど言葉(指示代名詞) like これ それ あれ どれ and now another こそあど言葉 is new pronoun.こなた そなた あなた どなた are now こちら そちら あちら どちら but あなた is そちら not あちら.

[@pinkrudy]

from what i see boku is the humble pronoun. the pronoun you use to show respect to others.

[@scriptingjapan5279]

@@pinkrudy boku is not nearly as polite or humble as watashi

[@pinkrudy]

@@scriptingjapan5279 I think youre right. Since, like you said, its the foreigner pronoun. the safest one. Then I guess boku is more humble than ore but not as much as watashi? its the middle humble pronoun?

[@blasianking4827]

@@pinkrudy It is not that Boku is rude, inpolite, or informal, it just doesn't quite touch 'watashi'. But it's still pretty commonly used even at work, I use it as well.

[@GameFuMaster]

boku is more childish, particularly boyish. You'll see tomboys use "boku" in anime, whereas other girls do not.

[@scriptingjapan5279]

@@GameFuMaster That's very oversimplified.

[@cherrypanda887]

I just found your channel and I love it! I love how you cite so many interesting papers. One of the books you cite (queerqueen) was a lecturer of mine 😊

[@scriptingjapan5279]

@@cherrypanda887 Dr. Maree is amazing, she reviewed my master's and PhD.

[@098saw]

As a foreigner, I might use "me" or ミーas a pronoun when I mess up japanese, apparently therr is a character who's carch phrase is ミーはフランス帰りザマスand most people catch that

[@scriptingjapan5279]

@@098saw I really would not recommend that

[@lovewhenshe]

​@@scriptingjapan5279😭

[@ThatMusicGuyAu]

Great video, only could have been made better by throwing in the obligatory Hokuto No Ken reference.

[@durandus676]

It feels more like self referential adjectives rather than the English pronouns. I feel like calling them pronouns creates more confusion than it helps with understanding

[@scriptingjapan5279]

@@durandus676 they aren't adjectives, no way shape or form. Even just grammatically: adjectives can't take particles like は/を etc and pronouns can.

[@emiloguechoons9030]

Japanese has pronouns? I didn't realise it was such a woke language, dissapointed

[@scriptingjapan5279]

@@emiloguechoons9030 in Japan the woker the better that's why they drink so much Boss coffee

[@nkanyezihlatshwayo3601]

@@scriptingjapan5279Isn’t Redbull from Japan originally? I like to imagine my use is in the original spirit in which it was given:)

[@GameFuMaster]

difference is, emphasis is based on addressing yourself, rather than imposing how other people address you

[@emiloguechoons9030]

@@GameFuMaster So Japanese doesn't have third person pronouns? Phew, I was worried for a moment, as long as they adhere to my idea of gender norms I'm happy, if I learnt that they have femboys in Japan I'll be so angry!!!

[@el-karasu6070]

​@@GameFuMasterIn other words Japanese is a woke language. Smh I can't believe SJWs invented anime 😡

[@GameFuMaster]

you seem to have missed そなた

[@scriptingjapan5279]

I'm just a bigger fan of cantatas.

[@EnnuiGoldfeld]

Why should second person pronouns be avoided in Japanese..?

[@peevshalpatine]

its a bit rude not to use someone's name if you now it.

[@scriptingjapan5279]

@@EnnuiGoldfeld it's just not preferred. It gives "I don't know your name" vibes