Pictographs in Japanese E-mail Requests(English Linguistics and Literature)

Abstract

This article focuses on the pictographs in Japanese requests collected through e-mail, exploring their functions and their frequency of occurrence under different conditions. The data were also analyzed in relation to the request strategy (head act) and differences in use according to gender. The results showed that the pictographs were most frequently used among equals with the informal and indirect head acts, P2 (positive politeness strategies 2), which were often used among close equals. This suggests that pictographs are used to show solidarity among equals. The pictographs were also frequently used along with the direct head acts, B1 (bald-on-record strategies 1). This indicates that these pictographs are used to reduce the brusqueness of requests. The pictographs were also frequently used with the indirect and formal head acts, N2 (negative politeness strategies 2), which were often used from subordinates to superiors. This indicates that the pictographs are used to mitigate a request force. Female participants used more pictographs than male participants. This may be because the females were more conscious of maintaining harmony by reducing brusqueness than the males.