Exercise 9: Tone of Requests

Often speakers talk hesitantly while alerting the hearer as to the upcoming request or while making the request. This helps to create a humble tone.

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Often Also, speakers often show consideration for the hearer by using certain phrases or expressions.  This contributes to the humble, caring tone. 

Notice that certain words (such as chotto or sukoshi) are often used to minimize the request and are pronounced emphatically.

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Hints are often used among very close friends or family members so that their tone of voice doesn’t sound too demanding.

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Apology and thanking expressions or the intensifiers (for example, hontouni ‘so, really’) often get stressed to exhibit a sincere tone of voice.

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Note that when someone older in age or of higher status accepts a major request, expressions of gratitude often come with a series of bows!

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