the soul of the far east(远东的灵魂)-第15章
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to be of relative application only。 For we should discover that speech is a
much less categorical matter than we had been led to suppose。 We
should actually come to doubt the fundamental necessity of some of our
most sacred grammatical constructions； and even our reverenced Latin
grammars would lose that air of awful absoluteness which so impressed us
in boyhood。
An encouraging estimate of a certain missionary puts the amount of
study needed by the Western student for the learning of Japanese as
sufficient； if expended nearer home； to equip him with any three modern
European languages。 It is certainly true that a completely strange
vocabulary； an utter inversion of grammar； and an elaborate system of
honorifics combine to render its acquisition anything but easy。 In its
fundamental principles； however； it is alluringly simple。
In the first place； the Japanese language is pleasingly destitute of
personal pronouns。 Not only is the obnoxious 〃I〃 conspicuous only by
its absence； the objectionable antagonistic 〃you〃 is also entirely
suppressed； while the intrusive 〃he〃 is evidently too much of a third
person to be wanted。 Such invidious distinctions of identity apparently
never thrust their presence upon the simple early Tartar minds。 I； you；
and he； not being differences due to nature； demanded； to their thinking；
no recognition of man。
There is about this vagueness of expression a freedom not without its
charm。 It is certainly delightful to be able to speak of yourself as if you
were somebody else； choosing mentally for the occasion any one you may
happen to fancy； or； it you prefer； the possibility of soaring boldly forth
into the realms of the unconditioned。
To us； at first sight； however； such a lack of specification appears
wofully incompatible with any intelligible transmission of ideas。 So
communistic a want of discrimination between the meum and the tuumto
say nothing of the claims of a possible third partywould seem to be as
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fatal to the interchange of thoughts as it proves destructive to the
trafficking in commodities。 Such； nevertheless； is not the result。 On the
contrary； Japanese is as easy and as certain of comprehension as is English。
On ninety occasions out of a hundred； the context at once makes clear the
person meant。
In the very few really ambiguous cases； or those in which； for the sake
of emphasis； a pronoun is wanted； certain consecrated expressions are
introduced for the purpose。 For eventually the more complex social
relations of increasing civilization compelled some sort of distant
recognition。 Accordingly； compromises with objectionable personality
were effected by circumlocutions promoted to a pronoun's office；
becoming thus pro…pronouns； as it were。 Very noncommittal expressions
they are； most of them； such as： 〃the augustness；〃 meaning you； 〃that
honorable side；〃 or 〃that corner；〃 denoting some third person； the exact
term employed in any given instance scrupulously betokening the relative
respect in which the individual spoken of is held； while with a candor； an
indefiniteness； or a humility worthy so polite a people； the I is known as
〃selfishness；〃 or 〃a certain person；〃 or 〃the clumsy one。〃
Pronominal adjectives are manufactured in the same way。 〃The stupid
father；〃 〃the awkward son；〃 〃the broken…down firm；〃 are 〃mine。〃 Were
they 〃yours；〃 they would instantly become 〃the august； venerable father；〃
〃the honorable son；〃 〃the exalted firm。〃 ＇1＇
Even these lame substitutes for pronouns are paraded as sparingly as
possible。 To the Western student； who brings to the subject a brain
throbbing with personality； hunting in a Japanese sentence for personal
references is dishearteningly like 〃searching in the dark for a black hat
which is n't there；〃 for the brevet pronouns are commonly not on duty。
To employ them with the reckless prodigality that characterizes our
conversation would strike the Tartar mind like interspersing his talk with
unmeaning italics。 He would regard such discourse much as we do those
effusive epistles of a certain type of young woman to her most intimate
girl friends； in which every other word is emphatically underlined。
For the most part； the absolutely necessary personal references are
introduced by honorifics； that is； by honorary or humble expressions。 Such
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The Soul of the Far East
is a portion of the latter's duty。 They do a great deal of unnecessary work
besides。
These honorifics are； taken as a whole； one of the most interesting
peculiarities of Japanese； as also of Korean； just as； taken in detail； they
are one of its most dangerous pitfalls。 For silence is indeed golden
compared with the chagrin of discovering that a speech which you had
meant for a compliment was； in fact； an insult； or the vexation of learning
that you have been industriously treating your servant with the deference
due a superior；two catastrophes sure to follow the attempts of even the
most cautious of beginners。 The language is so thoroughly imbued with
the honorific spirit that the exposure of truth in all its naked simplicity is
highly improper。 Every idea requires to be more or less clothed in courtesy
before it is presentable； and the garb demanded by etiquette is complex
beyond conception。 To begin with； there are certain preliminary particles
which are simply honorific； serving no other purpose whatsoever。 In
addition to these there are for every action a small infinity of verbs； each
sacred to a different degree of respect。 For instance； to our verb 〃to give〃
corresponds a complete social scale of Japanese verbs； each conveying the
idea a shade more politely than its predecessor； only the very lowest
meaning anything so plebeian as simply 〃to give。〃 Sets of laudatory or
depreciatory adjectives are employed in the same way。 Lastly； the word
for 〃is；〃 which strictly means 〃exists；〃 expresses this existence under three
different forms；in a matter…of…fact； a flowing； or an inflated style； the
solid； liquid； and gaseous states of conversation； so to speak； to suit the
person addressed。 But three forms being far too few for the needs of so
elaborate a politeness； these are supplemented by many interpolated
grades。
Terms of respect are applied not only to those mortals who are held in
estimation higher than their fellows； but to all men indiscriminately as
well。 The grammatical attitude of the individual toward the speaker is of
as much importance as his social standing； I being beneath contempt； and
you above criticism。
