Cognition and FDG 77ceived distance between the interlocutors, which relates to two different
factors that work together. One factor is politeness, which is in turn related
to a strong need to keep up one’s face, as well as the other person’s, in
Japanese culture. The second one is the strength of hierarchical relations in
a group-oriented culture. In Japanese, apart from the neutral ‘unmarked’
register, there is a special register, which is called keigo and has three dis-
tinct sub-registers, sonkei-go (respectful language), kenjoo-go (humble
language), and teinei-go (honorific language). Sonkei-go is used to show
respect towards a person whom we place ‘above’ us. This person may have
higher social status or may be somebody who deserves good treatment (a
client, or somebody we have just met for the first time). Kenjoo-go is used
by speakers who place themselves ‘below’ their interlocutors. Speakers
may also show respect by downgrading their own ‘face’ before others’. Fi-
nally, teinei-go is used when formal language is required. Since this
register can be used for any topic of conversation, its main function is sim-
ply to raise the level of formality involved.
These registers involve special choices in the vocabulary employed, but
they also require changes in the construal of the underlying situation,
which in turn influences its representation. Thus, in the FDG model, a
change of register would involve a different specification in the interper-
sonal level, especially concerning the speaker (Ps) and the addressee (Pa)
and their relationship, which cannot be properly codified in the hierarchical
structure as it stands. For Japanese, something like (Ps = Low) for humble
language, or something like (Pa = High) for respectful language could be
used, or a grading system which could show the relative social distance be-
tween both. For instance, (Pa = 10) and (Ps = 5) would show that the
addressee is socially higher than the speaker. It is important to notice that
theoretically it is possible to have (Ps = High) if the speaker is the Emperor,
or some kind of god in a tale, but the possibility is very unusual. In Eng-
lish, it could be compared to a character speaking with third person verbal
forms instead of using the first person. In Japanese, as there are no differ-
ent verbal forms according to person, it is the special register used that
helps us to know about whom something is being said.
The cognitive component, according to the specification present in the
interpersonal level, would then choose a suitable construal for the represen-
tation of content. Let us give an example. In sonkei-go, some verbs change.
Instead of taberu ‘to eat’, or nomu ‘to drink’, Japanese speakers use the
expression meshi-agaru, which literally means ‘to ascend food’. Instead of
miru ‘to see, to look’, we have goran ni naru ‘to become a viewing’. In
general, the expression o + verb root + ni naru can be used, so that we