‘I’m Rich, You Know?’: Self-Praise as Performance and the Role of First Person Singular Forms in Japanese Conversation

This study investigates the pivotal role of Japanese first-person singular (1SG) forms in self-praise episodes, utilizing an extensive analysis of over 50 hours of conversational data. The findings reveal a strikingly higher frequency of 1SG forms—44%, or 66 out of 150 self-praise episodes—contradicting the prevailing belief that these forms rarely occur in Japanese conversation. A detailed examination of these instances reveals that most do not semantically necessitate 1SG forms; they are divided equally into "emotive" and "frame-setting" categories. Emotive expressions often carry humor and are typically accompanied by laughter, while frame-setting functions as a crucial floor-holding device, signaling a transition to a more formal speech level. This study underscores the vital significance of 1SG forms in the construction of identity and social performance, illustrating their essential role in managing self-presentation and evaluation during interpersonal interactions.