Real time and memory time of “father”. Social and linguistic motivation observed in Glottograms

Abstract

Abstract This paper introduces the concept of “memory time” and gives an overview of its application to dialect forms that refer to “father”. Changes in many regions are shown by glottograms that simultaneously show regional and generational differences. The usage of kinship terms in Japanese shows interesting sociolinguistic features. It is linked to the consciousness of attribution to a specific social class. Due to the agricultural land reform after the war, the difference in social hierarchy within the rural areas became smaller, but the distinction or disparity made by kinship terms remained. Although the agricultural land reform was carried out all over the country at the same time, the standard form o-too-san for “father” gradually spread throughout the country in the latter half of the 20th century. The diffusion pattern is similar to other standard forms. From the above, it can be concluded that the standard form otoo-san was not directly influenced by changes in social stratification, but was the spread of standard language only in words without social-class background. The ultimate mechanism of change was found to be the “law of respect reduction”.