Exercise 9: Simulation Exercises for Thanking

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u      In the sample dialogue, the student says the following in thanking the professor:

今日は本当に長々とありがとうございました。  Kyouwa hontouni naganagato arigatou gozai mashita.   ‘Thank you for all your time today.’

ほんとに今日はお時間たっぷり割いていただいてありがとうございました。  Hontoni kyouwa ojikan tappuri saite itadaite arigatou gozaimashita.  ‘Okay.  Thank you again for sparing so much time for me today.’

The speaker uses a strategy of intensifying his thanks by using words like hontouni, naganagato‘for a long time,’ and (ojikan) tappuri‘a lot of time.’   Notice another strategy – the stress placed on these words.  This helps to deliver a sincere tone.  Also, the student is likely to bow to the professor as he utters his thanks, since he is speaking to someone of higher status.

u      Some degree of keigo is used due to the status difference between the speaker and the professor.  The student uses the polite desu/masu style, and even the humble form once (ojikan saite itadaite) in order to show his respect.  This is the strategy of using an appropriate level of politeness.

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