Social and Psychological Aspects of Verbal Behavior in Japanese-Americans

Abstract

The authors discuss the verbal behavior patterns of English-speaking Japanese-Americans living in Hawaii in terms of four cultural themes of Meiji-era Japan: 1) a strong sense of gender differences, 2) a concern for hierarchy and status, 3) an emphasis upon self-effacement, and 4) a focus on nonverbal communication. These behaviors may be misinterpreted by Caucasian Americans unfamiliar with the Japanese-American's culture of origin.