相そう対たい敬けい語ご

noun

relative honorifics; relative respectful speech

Linguistic term for honorific usage that depends on the social relationship between speaker, listener, and referent, rather than absolute status. Contrasts with 絶対敬語 (absolute honorifics).

• 日本にほん語ごの敬けい語ごは相そう対たい敬けい語ごの体たい系けいを持もっていると言いわれる。

  Japanese honorifics are said to have a system of relative honorifics.

• 相そう対たい敬けい語ごでは、話はなし手てと聞きき手ての関かん係けいによって表ひょう現げんが変かわる。

  In relative honorifics, expressions change depending on the relationship between the speaker and the listener.