An Analysis of Language Shifting: The Use of Danseigo by Women in the Workplace

摘要

There are several varieties of languages found in Japanese. These include danseigo (man language) and joseigo (woman language). Both of these languages are still used by Japanese people nowadays, but there is a shift in its use. One type of shift in these languages is that danseigo recently also used by women in work situations. The purpose of this study was to determine general reasons in a concrete manner which made women use a variety of danseigo in the workplace. The method used in this research is a descriptive analysis method. The data are conversations by women who used danseigo in workplace collected from Japanese movie named "Spirited Away". The data analyzed especially based on the use of ninshoo daimeishi (pronouns) and shuujoshi (particle used in the end of the sentence). The result showed that the use of danseigo by women in workplace occurs due to reasons for firmness in commands, accentuating masculinity, high up the tone of speech, showing strong positions, make close relationship between seniors and juniors, deliver information that can be easily known by the speakers, firmness, command, shows a strong position as owner and for taking the attention by the others.