Japanese as a language relies very heavily on politeness and formality. I was telling Polnareff not too long ago about the different words for 'I' and how they vary in formality. To use the same example, I ordinarily use watashi or boku because those are more or less the accepted standards for someone my age. The former is more or less default, while the latter is slightly more casual. Jotaro, on the other hand, uses ore which is about as rough and informal as you'd expect from him.
More to the point, with a language such as that the simple absence of formality is essentially a massive show of disrespect. It's not difficult to insult someone completely by mistake, if one's not used to speaking it. Continuing to use Jotaro as an example, I think one of the first things I ever overheard him saying was やかましい, 'yakamashii', which is basically 'shut up'. Which doesn't sound like much as far as insults go, but I suppose the tone may not translate well.
To use another example, the word for 'you' we used to refer to each other that day was 'きさま', 'kisama'. It's a rough word that is probably better translated as 'you bastard' or something to that effect.
So what you are saying is that the formality is so much a part of the culture that it is a key component in even the most basic ways of identifying yourself and everyone else. It sounds like the games people play when at court. One word or phrase has so many layers that just the very tone it is said in can make it mean different things. Even a small shift in tone can take a greeting to an insult that one would kill another over very easily.
I like to think modern day has gotten passed killing each other for an insult, but it almost sounds like said insult done correctly in Japanese might end up being worse than killing someone. I guess it just depends on how strongly the person feels about formality.
He just gives off the image of one. I have to give him credit, he does that pretty well. But he's definitely not much of a delinquent outside of appearance and the way he talks. Hell, half the time I think I'm worse than he is.
Does he know you are ruining his reputation so? [Diarmuid laughs as he sends the message, following it up a few moments later with another one.]
I'm joking of course, but I wouldn't be surprised if you were worse than he is. They always say it is the quiet ones you have to watch out for. Plus, you are a strategist. You don't mind waiting if it will make the payback that much better.
[Well, Diarmuid can't say much to that. He has his ducks after all.]
What it says is that you've been through a lot--even more than he has in some ways. It will probably always be harder for you to trust and find reason to be kind to others.
Well, I thought that was a given, but it is your birthday. If I don't get all the sentimental out today, then you will have to deal with me getting sentiment all over you during other times of the year.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2016-07-28 06:09 am (UTC)More to the point, with a language such as that the simple absence of formality is essentially a massive show of disrespect. It's not difficult to insult someone completely by mistake, if one's not used to speaking it. Continuing to use Jotaro as an example, I think one of the first things I ever overheard him saying was やかましい, 'yakamashii', which is basically 'shut up'. Which doesn't sound like much as far as insults go, but I suppose the tone may not translate well.
To use another example, the word for 'you' we used to refer to each other that day was 'きさま', 'kisama'. It's a rough word that is probably better translated as 'you bastard' or something to that effect.
no subject
Date: 2016-07-29 04:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-07-29 04:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-07-29 05:45 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-07-29 06:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-07-30 03:40 am (UTC)[Way to ruin the rep of all delinquents everywhere, Mr Kujo.]
no subject
Date: 2016-07-30 03:49 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-07-30 04:53 am (UTC)[Diarmuid laughs as he sends the message, following it up a few moments later with another one.]
I'm joking of course, but I wouldn't be surprised if you were worse than he is. They always say it is the quiet ones you have to watch out for. Plus, you are a strategist. You don't mind waiting if it will make the payback that much better.
no subject
Date: 2016-07-30 04:56 am (UTC)I can tell you right now he's a much kinder person than I am. Which, all things considered, might say more about me than it does him.
no subject
Date: 2016-07-30 05:17 am (UTC)What it says is that you've been through a lot--even more than he has in some ways. It will probably always be harder for you to trust and find reason to be kind to others.
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Date: 2016-07-30 05:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-08-01 03:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-08-01 03:05 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-08-02 03:26 am (UTC)