In the Japanese language, aizuchi (Japanese: 相槌 or あいづち, IPA:[aizɯ(ꜜ)tɕi]) are interjections during a conversation that indicate the listener is paying attention or understands the speaker (backchanneling). In linguistic terms, these are a form of phatic expression. Aizuchi are considered reassuring to the speaker, indicating that the listener is active and involved in the discussion.[1]
These have a similar function to English "yeah", "yup", "OK", "really?", "uh-huh", "oh", and so on.
Aizuchi are frequently misinterpreted by non-native speakers as the listener showing agreement and approval.[3] Business relations in particular can be hampered by non-native speakers assuming that their Japanese counterparts have been agreeing to their suggestions all along, especially with hai (はい, "yes"), when the native Japanese speaker meant only that they follow or understand the suggestions – "got it", not "agreed".[4]
Aizuchi can also take the form of so-called echo questions, which consist of a noun plus desu ka (ですか). After Speaker A asks a question, Speaker B may repeat a key noun followed by desu ka to confirm what Speaker A was talking about or simply to keep communication open while Speaker B thinks of an answer. A rough English analog would be "A ..., you say?", as in: "So I bought this new car"; reply: "A car, you say?".
^ Miller, Laura. 1983. Aizuchi: Japanese Listening Behavior. MA Thesis, anthropology, UCLA.
^Nodding, Aizuchi, and Final Particles in Japanese Conversation, Volume 39, Issue 7, July 2007, pages 1239–1323, Journal of Pragmatics
^ Miller, Laura. 1991.“Verbal listening behavior in conversations between Japanese and Americans.” In The Pragmatics of Intercultural and International Communication, edited by Jan Blommaert and Jef Verschueren, John Benjamins, Amsterdam, pp. 110–130.
^SEIFI, PHILIP (November 2, 2013). "Are you listening to me? The Japanese art of aizuchi". Lingualift (see "[https edulift dot co]"). from the original on December 23, 2015. This can cause serious confusion when Westerners and Japanese communicate because it sounds like the Japanese person is saying yes all along and then suddenly saying no, it's difficult, or [...] Japanese body language for, 'No way in hell, sorry.'
Further readingedit
Boye De Mente (2011). Japan's Cultural Code Words: 233 Key Terms That Explain the Attitudes and Behavior of the Japanese. Rutland, Vermont: Tuttle Publishing.
External linksedit
The Japanese art of aizuchi
Japanese Conversational Interjections - What is Aizuchi?
January 10, 2024
aizuchi, japanese, language, aizuchi, japanese, 相槌, あいづち, aizɯ, tɕi, interjections, during, conversation, that, indicate, listener, paying, attention, understands, speaker, backchanneling, linguistic, terms, these, form, phatic, expression, considered, reassur. In the Japanese language aizuchi Japanese 相槌 or あいづち IPA aizɯ ꜜ tɕi are interjections during a conversation that indicate the listener is paying attention or understands the speaker backchanneling In linguistic terms these are a form of phatic expression Aizuchi are considered reassuring to the speaker indicating that the listener is active and involved in the discussion 1 Contents 1 Examples 2 See also 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksExamples editCommon aizuchi include hai はい ee ええ or un うん yes with varying degrees of formality sō desu ne そうですね I see sō desu ka そうですか is that so really hontō 本当 hontō ni 本当に maji マジ or in Kansai honma 本真 really naruhodo なるほど I see that s right nodding 2 These have a similar function to English yeah yup OK really uh huh oh and so on Aizuchi are frequently misinterpreted by non native speakers as the listener showing agreement and approval 3 Business relations in particular can be hampered by non native speakers assuming that their Japanese counterparts have been agreeing to their suggestions all along especially with hai はい yes when the native Japanese speaker meant only that they follow or understand the suggestions got it not agreed 4 Aizuchi can also take the form of so called echo questions which consist of a noun plus desu ka ですか After Speaker A asks a question Speaker B may repeat a key noun followed by desu ka to confirm what Speaker A was talking about or simply to keep communication open while Speaker B thinks of an answer A rough English analog would be A you say as in So I bought this new car reply A car you say See also editBackchannel linguistics References edit Miller Laura 1983 Aizuchi Japanese Listening Behavior MA Thesis anthropology UCLA Nodding Aizuchi and Final Particles in Japanese Conversation Volume 39 Issue 7 July 2007 pages 1239 1323 Journal of Pragmatics Miller Laura 1991 Verbal listening behavior in conversations between Japanese and Americans In The Pragmatics of Intercultural and International Communication edited by Jan Blommaert and Jef Verschueren John Benjamins Amsterdam pp 110 130 SEIFI PHILIP November 2 2013 Are you listening to me The Japanese art of aizuchi Lingualift see https edulift dot co Archived from the original on December 23 2015 This can cause serious confusion when Westerners and Japanese communicate because it sounds like the Japanese person is saying yes all along and then suddenly saying no it s difficult or Japanese body language for No way in hell sorry Further reading editBoye De Mente 2011 Japan s Cultural Code Words 233 Key Terms That Explain the Attitudes and Behavior of the Japanese Rutland Vermont Tuttle Publishing External links editThe Japanese art of aizuchi Japanese Conversational Interjections What is Aizuchi Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Aizuchi amp oldid 1178690689, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
