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In:Informality in Japanese: Getting close in a formal context
Edited by Haruko Minegishi Cook and Momoko Nakamura
[Pragmatics & Beyond New Series 357] 2027
► pp. 145–171

Chapter 7
Problem resolution through informal re-framing

Modulating style and stance in Kansai

 | University of Maryland, College Park
This content is being prepared for publication; it may be subject to changes.
Abstract
This chapter analyzes style shifts in a business telephone call between two companies in Kansai, Japan from the perspectives of indexicality, frame analysis, footing, and stance. By tracing modulations in usage of style and Kansai dialect, I demonstrate how two participants create nested, informal frames within a formal conversation to resolve several problems. While the male participant uses plain style predicates with Kansai forms almost exclusively, the female speaker’s stylistic and dialect choices are more dynamic. Her use of the masu form indexes an on-stage, self-presentational stance, which she assumes when representing her company. In contrast, her use of the plain style with affect keys and occasional dialect forms indexes an off-stage, informal stance, conveying surprise, solidarity, empathy, and humor.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Background: Terms and concepts
    • 2.1Deixis and indexicality
    • 2.2Framing, footing, and stance
    • 2.3Honorifics and plain style forms
    • 2.4Kansai dialect
  • 3.Data and participants
  • 4.Analysis
    • 4.1Formal call opening and initial problem report
    • 4.2Reframing with an informal style and KD for problem-solving
      • 4.2.1Maido as an index of familiarity and business relationships
      • 4.2.2Reporting a problem and creating another informal frame
    • 4.3Returning to the plain form for additional problem-solving
  • 5.Conclusions
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
  • Appendix
References (48)
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