「空気を読む」や「以心伝心」など、外国人には理解しにくい日本語の特性は多数あります。世界中の大学や研究機関では、かつてないほど多くの研究者が日本語研究を進めています。私たち日本人が普段は意識しない日本語や日本文化。彼らは様々な角度から、日本語や日本文化について論じています。日本語を研究する中で、彼らは欧米文化との比較を通じて新たな発見をし、自らの課題や反省点も明確にしていきます。
There are many characteristics of Japanese that are difficult for foreigners to understand, such as “reading the air” (kuuki wo yomu) and “telepathy” (ishin-denshin). Universities and research institutions around the world are conducting more research on the Japanese language than ever before. We Japanese are usually unaware of our own language and culture. They discuss Japanese language and culture from various angles. In the course of researching Japanese, they make new discoveries through comparisons with Western cultures, and also clarify their own challenges and points for reflection.
日本語の研究/Japanese Language Studies
1. 沈黙が意味を持つ日本語
日本語は、言葉だけでなく、会話の「間」や「沈黙」にも深い意味が含まれます。言葉を交わさずとも相手の意図を察する文化は、非言語コミュニケーションを重視する日本人の特徴です。AIの進展に伴い、日本の「非言語コミュニケーション」は最大の壁となっています。AI分野でも、この特徴が課題となり、AI倫理の最終判断を日本人に委ねるべきだという議論があります。
１. Japanese language in which silence is meaningful
In Japanese, deep meaning is contained not only in the words themselves but also in the pauses and silences in conversation. This culture of understanding the other person’s intentions without exchanging words is a characteristic of the Japanese, who place great importance on non-verbal communication. With the advancement of AI, this “non-verbal communication” in Japan has become the biggest obstacle. Even in the field of AI, this characteristic has become a challenge, and there is discussion that the final judgment on AI ethics should be entrusted to the Japanese.
2. 主語がなくても成り立つ会話
日本語は主語を省略することが多く、日本人は相手との関係性や背景を察しながら会話を進めます。一方、多くの外国語は主語が必須で、誰が何をするのかを明確にします。これは、物事を分析的に捉え、対象を明確に切り分けようとする思考法に基づいています。
これらの考えから、当初、欧米では日本語は未成熟な言語と見なされていた。しかし、日本人が欧米を凌駕する高品質な工業製品を次々と生み出したことで、日本語を含む日本文化に内在する潜在的な力への関心が高まったのです。
2. Conversation that can take place without a subject
Japanese often omits the subject, and Japanese people proceed with conversations while inferring the relationship and background with the other person. On the other hand, many foreign languages require a subject and clarify who is doing what. This is based on a way of thinking that analytically grasps things and tries to clearly separate the object.
Based on these ideas, Japanese was initially regarded as an immature language in Europe and the United States. However, as the Japanese people continued to produce high-quality industrial products that surpassed those of the West, interest grew in the potential power inherent in Japanese culture, including the Japanese language.
3. 相手の言葉を遮らない文化
日本人は自分の意見を主張するよりも、相手との関係性を築くことを重視します。ですから、雄弁な人より「聞き上手」な人ほど信頼が厚いようです。これに対して、欧米の会話はディベートに近く、因果関係や主体性を重んじるため、相手の言葉を遮ってでも自分の意見を述べることがあります。時には大声や大きなジェスチャーで議論がヒートアップすることもあります。
日本人には、相手の心に響く言葉を静かに探す傾向があるのです。日本人は会話の中の「間」や「沈黙」の中で思案を巡らせているのです。日本語には、直接的な表現よりも繊細なニュアンスを伝える言葉が豊富にあるからです。言葉を遮る人は、興奮しているか、言葉に詰まっている場合が多いようです。
３. A culture of not interrupting others
Japanese people prioritize building relationships with others over asserting their own opinions. Therefore, people who are good listeners tend to be more trusted than eloquent speakers. In contrast, Western conversations are more like debates, emphasizing causality and agency. As a result, people may interrupt others to express their own opinions. Sometimes, discussions can become heated with loud voices and large gestures.
Japanese people tend to quietly seek words that resonate with the other person’s heart. They often contemplate during the pauses and silences in conversation. This is because the Japanese language has a wealth of words that convey delicate nuances rather than direct expressions. People who interrupt others are often either excited or at a loss for words.
4. 曖昧な表現に込められた配慮
日本語には「〜かもしれません」「〜だと思います」といった、曖昧で柔らかな表現が多く存在します。これらは、話し手と聞き手の間に存在する共通理解を前提としており、相手を正面から否定したり強制したりしないための配慮です。日本語には、相手との関係性を円滑に保つための工夫や、相手との距離感を常に調整しながら思考する日本人の特性が表れています。
外国語は自己表現や主張の手段となり、時には武器にもなります。言葉は人を深く傷つけ、社会的に抹殺する力さえ持つのです。しかし、政治家などの特殊な職業を除き、日本人が言葉を武器とすることは少ない。賢明な政治家であれば、言葉よりも事実やデータを穏やかに示して相手を納得させるでしょう。
4. Consideration implied in ambiguous expressions
There are many ambiguous and soft expressions in Japanese, such as “~ may be” and “~ I think”. These are based on the assumption of a common understanding that exists between the speaker and listener, and are intended to avoid denying or forcing the other party to be upfront. The Japanese language expresses the characteristics of Japanese people, who think in a way that allows them to maintain a smooth relationship with others and constantly adjust the distance between them and the other party.
Foreign languages can be a means of self-expression and assertion, and sometimes even a weapon. Words can deeply hurt people and even have the power to obliterate them socially. However, with the exception of politicians and other special professions, Japanese people rarely use language as a weapon. A wise politician will convince others by calmly presenting facts and data rather than words.
5. 敬語の多様性と関係性重視の思想
英語にも敬語に当たる表現はありますが、基本的には「すべての人は平等」という思想に基づいています。一方、人間関係を重視する日本では、敬意や謙遜の度合いに応じて尊敬語、謙譲語Ⅰ、謙譲語Ⅱ、丁寧語、美化語という5つの分類を使い分けます。丁寧な言葉遣いをすることで、相手との良好な関係を築くことを大切にしているのです。
5. Diversity of honorifics and relationship-oriented philosophy
Although English also has expressions that correspond to honorifics, they are basically based on the idea that all people are equal. On the other hand, in Japan, where human relationships are more important, five categories of honorific expressions are used according to the degree of respect or modesty: respectful, humble I, humble II, polite, and beautiful. They value the importance of building good relationships with others by using polite language.
日本文化の研究/Study of Japanese Culture
１. 静かなリーダーが尊重される日本
欧米のリーダーが自己主張を強く持ち、明確な指示で部下を導くのに対し、日本のリーダーは、部下の意見を聞きながら全体をまとめることを得意とする人が多いようです。静かで口数が少なくても、自らの行動で示すリーダーが尊敬される傾向にあります。
さらに日本の尊敬できるリーダーとは、組織の功績と賞賛は部下たちに与え、部下たちの失敗は自らが責任を負うという人物です。
１. Japan, where quiet leaders are respected
While Western leaders are assertive and lead their subordinates with clear instructions, many Japanese leaders seem to be good at listening to their subordinates’ opinions and organizing the whole group. Leaders who are quiet and talk little but show by their actions tend to be respected.
Furthermore, a respectable leader in Japan is one who gives credit and praise to his subordinates for the organization’s achievements, but takes responsibility for their failures.
２. 世界を「関係」として捉える日本語
個人主義思想の欧米では、まず「自分」が中心です。何かを欲すれば自ら積極的に行動し、手に入れることを重視します。しかし、人間関係の中で育つ日本では、分かち合うことが文化として根付いています。これは「個人」よりも「全体」を重視する日本人の思考と深く結びついています。
自己中心的な人は、派手な言動や英雄的行為によって自己を誇示しようとします。対照的に、日本人は集団を重んじ、実績と信頼を積み重ねることで周囲からの信頼を得て、その結果として輝きを放ちます。
２. Japanese language that perceives the world as a “relationship“
In the West, with its individualistic philosophy, the “self” is first and foremost. If you want something, you must take the initiative to obtain it. In Japan, however, where people are raised in relationships, sharing is ingrained in the culture. This is deeply connected to Japanese thinking, which emphasizes the “whole” rather than the “individual.
Self-absorbed people seek to aggrandize themselves through flamboyant speech and heroic deeds. In contrast, the Japanese value the group, and by accumulating achievements and trust, they gain the trust of those around them and shine as a result.
３. 全体を見渡す日本人の風景の見方
欧米人が風景の特定の「中心」に注目し、例えば動物の群れの中でリーダーを探すのに対し、日本人は「全体」を見渡して、個々の要素の関係性や調和を考えます。動物の群れであれば、リーダーだけでなく子どもや母親はどこにいるかを探す、といった具合です。カメラのレンズに例えるなら、欧米は被写体を鮮明に捉える望遠レンズ、日本人は広い景色を包み込む広角レンズといえるでしょう。この日米の認知スタイルの違いは「木を見る西洋人、森を見る東洋人」という言葉（書籍）にも表現されています。
３. The Japanese view of the landscape as a whole
Whereas Westerners focus on a particular “center” of the landscape and look for the leader in a herd of animals, for example, the Japanese look at the “whole” and consider the relationship and harmony of the individual elements. In the case of a herd of animals, they look not only for the leader, but also for the children and the mother. If we were to use a camera lens analogy, we could say that Westerners use a telephoto lens to capture the subject clearly, while Japanese people use a wide-angle lens to encompass a wide landscape. This difference in cognitive style between Japan and the U.S. is expressed in the phrase (book), “Westerners see the trees, Orienters see the forest.
４. 日米の自己認識の違い
米国では「自己主張」や「自己肯定」が奨励されますが、日本人は過大な自己評価を避ける傾向があり、むしろ自分の欠点や弱点を重視します。親しい相手には、できないことや苦手なことをあらかじめ伝えておくことで、楽な人間関係を築こうと考えます。相手が「自分をどう見るか」を意識し、自分が望む「自己像」を共有することで、円滑なコミュニケーションを図ろうとするのです。
４. Differences in Self-Awareness between Japan and the U.S.
While “assertiveness” and “self-affirmation” are encouraged in the U.S., Japanese tend to avoid excessive self-evaluation and rather focus on their own shortcomings and weaknesses. They think that they can build an easy relationship with their close partners by telling them in advance what they cannot do or what they are not good at. They are conscious of how the other person “sees” them and try to communicate smoothly by sharing the “self-image” they desire.
５. 矛盾を許容する日本文化の柔軟性
「機微」とは、表面からは見えにくい微妙な心の動きや事情を指す。日本文化においては、全体を尊重しつつ個々の心の機微も大切にするという、一見矛盾する価値観が存在すします。しかし、日本人はこの矛盾を柔軟に受け入れてきました。「それはそれ、これはこれ」と割り切ることで、物事を明確に区別したがる欧米的な思考とは異なる独特の感性を育んできました。
柔軟性とは、物事に縛られず柔軟に対応できる性質を指します。日本人は古来より、矛盾や異質なものを恐れず包摂する精神、すなわち多様性や共生の精神を持ち合わせてきました。
５. Flexibility of Japanese culture to tolerate contradictions
”Subtlety” refers to subtle movements of the heart and circumstances that are difficult to see from the surface. In Japanese culture, there is a seemingly contradictory value system that respects the whole while at the same time valuing the subtleties of the individual heart. However, the Japanese people have been flexible in accepting this contradiction. By separating “this from that” and “this from that,” they have developed a unique sensibility that differs from Western thinking, which tends to make clear distinctions between things.
Flexibility refers to the quality of being able to respond flexibly and without being bound by things. Since ancient times, the Japanese have possessed a spirit of inclusion without fear of contradiction or heterogeneity, in other words, a spirit of diversity and coexistence.
精神的フロンティアは日本だった/The spiritual frontier is Japan.
欧米列強は世界史においてフロンティアを求め続けたが、数々の戦いを経てもなお、その対立の根源は解消されていません。21世紀の現代においても、宗教や哲学などを含む欧米の知性は、自らが抱える問題を克服できていなようです。
Western powers have sought frontiers throughout world history, but even after numerous battles, the roots of their conflicts remain unresolved, and even in the 21st century, Western intellects, including those of religion and philosophy, seem unable to overcome their own problems.
経済的、政治的疲弊に苦しむ大国がある一方、日本は独自の道を歩み、平和と経済的安定を維持してきました。欧米列強の植民地とならず、領土的野望も持たず、周辺国との戦火を避けて、ひたすら平和国家を目指した日本。いま、欧米のフロンティアスピリットは、新大陸ではなく、精神的フロンティアとして日本を目指しているのです。
While other major powers suffered from economic and political exhaustion, Japan followed its own path and maintained peace and economic stability. Japan did not become a colony of Western powers, had no territorial ambitions, avoided warfare with neighboring countries, and solely strived to become a peaceful nation. Today, the frontier spirit of the West is aiming not at a new continent but at Japan as a spiritual frontier.
