Abstract Pragmatic meanings are not only conveyed through words alone, but also through how words are produced phonetically. The current study investigated phonetic features that characterize the distinction between deferential and non-deferential speech style in Japanese. The Japanese data were then compared to previously published Korean data collected through the same methodology. The results revealed striking similarities between the two languages: Deferential voice is quieter and breathier, and has less fluctuation of pitch and loudness. The common strategy appears to sound calm and soft. Whereas Korean deferential speech was additionally low-pitched, Japanese did not show a consistent relationship between deferential meanings and pitch. The results diverge from the long-held view that Japanese polite speech is high-pitched, and they also deviate from the view that polite speech is universally associated with high pitch. The current findings demonstrate the importance of considering politeness as a complex phenomenon communicated via a number of phonetic cues, rather than a single cue (e. g. pitch). On top of a production study, we performed a perception study which showed that Japanese politeness, just as was shown for Korean politeness previously, can be perceived through vocal cues alone. The results also showed that Japanese female speakers do not necessarily do more to sound polite compared to male speakers, also contrary to previous claims.

中文翻译：

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跨文化多模态礼貌：与韩语相比，日语尊称语语音

摘要语用意义不仅通过单词传达，而且通过单词的语音表达方式传达。当前的研究调查了语音特征，这些特征表征了日语中的顺从性和非顺从性言语风格的区别。然后将日本数据与通过相同方法收集的先前发布的韩国数据进行比较。结果揭示了两种语言之间的惊人相似之处：顺从的声音更安静，更呼吸，音调和响度的波动较小。共同的策略似乎听起来很镇定和温和。尽管朝鲜语尊称语的语调也很低调，但日语并没有显示出语调含义与音调之间的一致关系。结果与长期以来的看法不同，即日本人的礼貌用语很尖锐，而且他们还偏离了礼貌的讲话普遍与高音有关的观点。当前的发现表明将礼貌视为通过许多语音提示而不是单个提示（例如音调）传达的复杂现象的重要性。在制作研究的基础上，我们进行了一项感知研究，该研究表明，仅通过语音提示就可以感知到日本人的礼貌，就像以前韩国人的礼貌一样。研究结果还表明，与男性发言者相比，日本女性发言者不一定在礼貌上做得更多，这也与先前的主张相反。而不是单个提示（例如音高）。在制作研究的基础上，我们进行了一项感知研究，该研究表明，仅通过语音提示就可以感知到日本人的礼貌，就像以前韩国人的礼貌一样。研究结果还表明，与男性发言者相比，日本女性发言者不一定在礼貌上做得更多，这也与先前的主张相反。而不是单个提示（例如音高）。在制作研究的基础上，我们进行了一项感知研究，该研究表明，仅通过语音提示就可以感知到日本人的礼貌，就像以前韩国人的礼貌一样。研究结果还表明，与男性发言者相比，日本女性发言者不一定在礼貌上做得更多，这也与先前的主张相反。