The Backstory of Keigo

Keigo is originally Japanese, meaning honorific speech. Elsewhere, Keigo refers to listener-friendly speech — often aided by Keigo app. Both Keigo’s are based on situational flexibility, communication and interpersonal skill.

Frankly: we must weigh our words based on our surroundings and other people.

Big in Japan

There are many situations in Japanese culture, which call for utilization of Keigo. For example, you simply must “go Keigo” when talking to elder people or people in authority positions. For Japanese, Keigo lubricates all social frictions. Going Keigo helps to avoid being rude, that way you also show your respect and generally give good impressions. Go Keigo is also called for when asking for something.

Going Keigo helps to avoid being rude, that way you also show your respect and generally give good impressions towards others.

Rank and file

Japanese Keigo has two main axes: hierarchy and distance. Let’s talk about the former first. There is respectful Keigo, putting the other person on a pedestal, perhaps even talking as if the other person was a King or Queen. Masters (Sensei) and mentors (Senpai) definitely deserve this kind of approach.

Then there is regular polite speech, think of this as “Keigo Lite”: placing the other person just slightly above yourself. Common courtesy. Then there is humble speech. That is when you, as a speaker, put yourself down: refer to yourself as being lower in class and generally speak in a self-deprecating manner. Think of meeting your spouses or loved ones parents for the first time.

What’s the safety word?

This authority axis is really a combination of both respect and humbleness. So, for example, you either show lots of respect to your client and look up to him or her or you crawl on your knees. Can you do both: look up while crawling on your knees? Go Über-Keigo? Or go Über-Unter-Keigo to be precise? Combining brown-nosing with masochism — on your knees, no less. Although it is starting to make sense, let’s leave this disturbing image right now.

Up close and personal

The other axis in Japanese Keigo is social proximity. Are we family or close friends? Or do we barely know one another and only deal with one another in formal settings? That sets the stage too. Sometimes, for example, same rank, title, age or location can bring about closeness, say “we are both trainees here”, but work relationship usually come with longer social distance. Moreover, a client is probably furthest apart, by definition.

How about Keigo app?

The Keigo app has the same basic idea. Social intelligence. It seems that certain ancient wisdoms apply in every culture, no matter how different they may appear at first glance.

People are different. They tend to see the World in a slightly different way. Hence, words and nuances matter. There is always room for improvement.

There is a difference, however. Namely, Japanese Keigo has to do with interpersonal differences, but surprisingly, there are no intrapersonal differences involved. Keigo app is all about intrapersonal differences at first; Keigo app is based on addressing individual differences in people. Only after that, different social approaches are formed, based on understanding concerning unique characteristics of both the user and the conversation partner accordingly. So, it is interpersonal communication skills, stem from individual differences.

All roads lead to Rome

Instead of social differences — hierarchy and proximity — the main axis in the Keigo app are fact versus people centric approach and flexibility versus dominance or assertiveness. It is interesting that axis hierarchy concerning social rank in Japanese Keigo is very close to our psychological fact-people-centric axis. The former takes place in society; the latter takes place in mind. Yet, intrapersonal differences manifest themselves in interpersonal relationships. At the end of the day, it is same stuff, one just hails from sociology and the other from personal psychology.

Social proximity in Japanese Keigo can also be translated into the Keigo app. Family and friends versus formal and fixed? That takes place in society and in interpersonal domain. Turn that into a Keigo app compatible form this way: you can usually be assertive, out-spoken and even somewhat dominant with your near and dear ones, as you are family after all, but especially with new work acquaintances and customers you have to show general flexibility, delicate touch and use subtle expressions. Again, in Japan, these social codes of conduct come from society. With the Keigo app, things are different. It is all about personality differences and variety in personal preferences, which rule the game.

East meets West

“It is different strokes for different folks”, in both cases. However, in Japan, it is all about collective social norms, whereas in Western World and in the Keigo app, it is all about rugged individualism and freedom of expression. It’s not right, it is not wrong — just different.

Pure respect will not cut it

Every leaf drops, yet every leaf drops in a unique manner. It is this unique quality in us, and in life, that forms a war cry of the Keigo app. After all, being a humble servant will only get you so far. Therefore, you can broaden your interpersonal range and influence by the Keigo app.

Go Keigo for better bonding — but it doesn’t stop there. Keigo is your mentor in the moment no matter what you do. Find common ground in personal or even intimate manner or sprain your counterparts brain with bold and disruptive idea — going Keigo will help you come through.

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