Doesn't English have Keigo or Sonkeigo?

Hi.
Someone might say that "Japanese has Keigo system, while English doesn't."
Is it true? ............ I don't think so.

I don't know it is Keigo system grammatically or not, but at least English has the "polite expressions for adults' communication".

"Open the door!" might be OK, if it is said by a police officer, or if it is said by Mom to her son.
But I should not say it to someone who I first meet, unless emergency.

I think "Could you open the door for me?" "Would you mind opening the door for me ?" might be better for adult conversation.

Yet, to make the matter worse, and more complicated,
too-polite-expressions might be thought as sarcasm.

So it is very difficult to speak proper and perfect English (or any other languages including Japanese).

As a non-native English speaker who's learned it for a long time, yet has not become an advanced-learner, I feel a strong dilemma......
Sometimes I can say it perfectly, like natives, and sometimes my English is very weird.
For example,
The other day, I wanted to praise him and wanted to say, "Oh, that's awesome!", instead, I said "Oh, that's awful!"
The listener was kind enough to correct my mistake, yet, after a looong pause....
I didn't remember those two words clearly at that time.

For now, as my English is often weird, you'll probably know that my expression is wrong, not my thought.
But someday, when I can speak English more fluently, my misused words will cause a big trouble.

From time to time, in this kind of forums, a very small mutual misunderstanding would cause a big quarrel, which is a sad thing.

So I wonder I should stay the poor level of ESL.
Do you understand my point? And what do you think? :?

Non-natives sometimes use offensive expressions, but it is not his intention.
He just doesn't know the proper one.

Thank you for reading.
(Please correct my errors, if you don't mind. )

Hello WaterFox.

I've often thought about this myself. As a native speaker I just naturally make the switch depending on whether I am talking to friends or strangers. I think there definitely is a polite system in English but the main difference with Japanese is that it doesn't change depending on whether you are just being polite or if you are above or below the person you are talking to in terms of social status, i.e. 窶伉ｸﾅ檀ﾅ津ｪﾂ、ﾅ陳ｪﾂ湘ｷﾅ津ｪﾂ、窶卩｡窶扣ﾅ津ｪ. At least, I do not think so. I'll have to think a bit more about this.

It's hard to say and I think it depends on the person. For instance, if I am talking to a professor I would almost always use "Would it be possible..." instead of "Could you..." or "Would you..." when making a request but that is just personal preference. "Would it be possible..." is more indirect and thus seems more polite, but you could definitely use "Could you..." or "Would you..."

WaterFox said:

Yet, to make the matter worse, and more complicated,
too-polite-expressions might be thought as sarcasm.

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Well, normally if someone is being sarcastic you can either tell from the situation or in their tone. Their tone is usually more angry/aggressive, or overly calm for the situation. It's hard to describe but usually there is a definite "sarcastic" tone that a lot of people use. And, for example, if I were to use too-polite-expressions with my friends it would obviously be seen as sarcastic. But, with strangers or in professional settings I don't think you have to worry.

Only because you asked, but it should be "...will cause big trouble", no need for a/an. "Trouble" isn't something you can quantify into amounts, so it is almost always without a/an (I say "almost" because I can't possibly know every situation, but I can't think of any situation right now where you would use a/an).

Thank you, Half-n-Half, for your detailed explanation and suggestions.

Half-n-Half said:

For instance, if I am talking to a professor I would almost always use "Would it be possible..." instead of "Could you..." or "Would you..." when making a request but that is just personal preference. "Would it be possible..." is more indirect and thus seems more polite, but you could definitely use "Could you..." or "Would you..."

Click to expand...

I didn't know the expression "would it be possible.....".
I don't think I've ever heard that expression before.
I've never requested in such a way to do something by others, maybe because I'm not a professor nor a boss of a native-English speaking person.
I will remember and use it, when I meet someone who is a professor or something.

Half-n-Half said:

Well, normally if someone is being sarcastic you can either tell from the situation or in their tone. Their tone is usually more angry/aggressive, or overly calm for the situation. It's hard to describe but usually there is a definite "sarcastic" tone that a lot of people use. And, for example, if I were to use too-polite-expressions with my friends it would obviously be seen as sarcastic. But, with strangers or in professional settings I don't think you have to worry.

Click to expand...

I see. There is a lot of tones; sarcastic, angry/aggressive, and sometimes comical, humorous, jokey.
When we talk with others in person, we might be able to recognize his/her intention by his/her gesture and facial expression.
Whereas, when we talk (write) in chatting board or forums like this, we couldn't decide if it is a joke, or sarcasm, or humor or something else. Or just-as-it-is.
I wonder pictographs might play an important role in forum's communication.:?

Half-n-Half said:

Only because you asked, but it should be "...will cause big trouble", no need for a/an. "Trouble" isn't something you can quantify into amounts, so it is almost always without a/an (I say "almost" because I can't possibly know every situation, but I can't think of any situation right now where you would use a/an).

Click to expand...

Thank you.
I misunderstood that "trouble" is a countable noun.
I think I confused it with "problem" as in "it is a big problem".

Would it be possible to correct my English errors when you notice them in the future?
( I mean it. It is not sarcasm, of course! I use it because you're my English language professor, Sir! )