Indonesian Trainees/Jisshusei^s Awareness of Politeness Strategies in Japanese: A Socio-Pragmatic Approach
Rina Supriatnaningsih, Lisda Nurjaleka, Silvia Nurhayati

Universitas Negeri Semarang

Abstract

Japanese language politeness is essential for being understood by Japanese language students and people who work in Japan, such as Indonesian trainees (Jisshusei) currently in Japan. Recognizing Japanese politeness utterances by trainees will help facilitate harmonious relationships for speakers. Moreover, the interlocutors can be mutually respectful. So, the trainees can communicate with Japanese people. Based on our preliminary investigation, students in Universitas Negeri Semarang who had the opportunity to participate in an internship program in Japan between 2017-2021 still had difficulty using Japanese politeness in an actual situation. This was because, when learning in class, informal situations were conditioned through lecturer explanations, so students had difficulty imagining situations similar to the actual situation. Trainees or Jisshusei who are taking technical training in Japan should be aware of the Japanese politeness form they use because they will be able to respect each other among speakers in terms of social relations with coworkers and their superiors when they take the technical training in Japan. Furthermore, the awareness of using polite speech in their environment when participating in the training, both at the time of how to apply or refuse following the Japanese society^s norms.
Based on this context- it is believed that this study will be able to
1. identify the type of respect/politeness utilized by the trainees (Jisshusei) in the given situation,
2. identify the forms of speech acts of request used in specific situations, and
3. identify the forms of refusal speech acts used in specific situations.
The findings of this study are expected to assist Indonesian trainees or Jisshusei in Japan, as well as Japanese language students who will work or participate in internships or work in Japan. In understanding the significance of the Japanese politeness utterances, which must be used following the rules that apply in Japanese society.

Keywords: politeness awareness, Jisshusei, speech-act of refusal, speech-act of request

Topic: Universal Quality Education