Name of reviewer: Steven Reviewee’s student number: A0156658N

Name of reviewee: Nguyen Vu My Linh

College: CAPT.1
Date of submission:16042018

Peer Review: Research Paper

さようなら sayounara – Is it really goodbye?
An analysis on Japanese and English leave-taking words

{missing intro and conclusion}

The meaning of “sayounara”

To explicate the meaning of “sayounara” I will examine some factors that influence

speakers’ choices of leave-taking words, why “sayounara” is only suitable for some situations

and not others. Also, I would want to examine the cognitive process of speakers when they
say “sayounara”. Some aspects of discussion include what speakers think of their
interlocutors, the prototypical scenario under which “sayounara” is said, and what kind of
feelings speakers appear to have when they say “sayounara”.

To begin with, one aspect concerning the meaning of “sayounara” emerging from the
examples concerns the relationship between the speakers. Let examine the following
examples.

(1) さようならカレタカさん

Sayounara Mr. Kaletaka.

きしゃ で い とき かれ りょうしん て
(2) 汽車が出て行く時、彼 らは両親 に手を振ってさようならをしました。

They waved and said sayounara to their parents as the train pulled out.

(3) スーザンは何とか、そろそろさようならを言う頃よと母親に言うことができる。

Susan manages to tell her mother that it is time to say sayounara.

Name of reviewer: Steven Reviewee’s student number: A0156658N
Name of reviewee: Nguyen Vu My Linh
College: CAPT.1
Date of submission:16042018

（４）先生、さようなら。

Teacher, sayounara.

In sentence (1), the speaker calls his interlocutor by his name, which indicates that the

speaker knows his interlocutor. In sentences (2), (3) and (4), words like 両親 – parents, 母親

- mother and 先生- teacher, also suggest that some form of relationship is established

between the interlocutors. Therefore, there should be a component in the explication of

“sayounara” which suggests that when someone says “sayounara”, he thinks about this

interlocutor like “someone I know well.”

Another aspect concerning the relationship between the interlocutors is whether the one who
says “sayounara” consider his interlocutor as “someone like me”. The examples to be
discussed below suggest that when people say “sayounara” they profess to think that “this

person is not someone like me.”

(1) さようならカレタカさん。

Sayounara Mr. Kaletaka (Kaletaka-san).

(6)「そう。お大事になさいませ。さようなら」

"Yes, please take good care of yourself. Sayounara"

In sentence (1), the addressee is Kaletaka-san. In Japanese, さん -“san” is one of

the honorific suffixes used to show respect to interlocutors. People will drop these honorific
when talking to very close friends, or people of lower social status [SOURCE]. Also, in

sentence (6) , “sayounara” is said after 「お大事になさいませ. 」. It is noted that お +

Verb+ なさいませ is a honorific affirmative expression to make a very polite request. If the

speaker professes to think of his interlocutor as “someone like me” when he says
Name of reviewer: Steven Reviewee’s student number: A0156658N
Name of reviewee: Nguyen Vu My Linh
College: CAPT.1
Date of submission:16042018

“sayounara”, it is unlikely that he will choose to use it together with honorific expressions of
such high level of formality.

The prototypical scenario of “sayounara”

Beside the relationship between the interlocutors, it is important to also consider the
prototypical scenario where “sayounara” is said.

To begin with, for a person to say “sayounara” to someone else, he must have been involved
in a conversation with the other party, no matter how short the conversation is. In other
words, “sayounara” only be used at the end of conversations since it will be strange if
someone says “sayounara” when he just meets someone else.

One of example of how “sayounara” is used at the end of the conversation is shown below

(7)

「そうですなあ。此頃忙しくて、まだ急には見られませんよ。」

「さようですか。」なんと云おうかと、暫く考えているらしい。「いずれまた伺います。何分宜しく。」

「さようなら。」

「さようなら。」

When either party needs to leave the place where they are at, “sayounara” is used to signal
the departure.

Let us examine a few examples

(7) 彼 はさようならも言わずに人ごみに姿を消した

Without saying sayounara, he disappeared into the crowd.

(8) 彼女 は「さようなら」も言わないで部屋を出ていった
Name of reviewer: Steven Reviewee’s student number: A0156658N
Name of reviewee: Nguyen Vu My Linh
College: CAPT.1
Date of submission:16042018

She left the room without saying sayounara

きしゃ で い とき かれ りょうしん て
(9) 汽車が出て行く時、彼 らは両親 に手を振ってさようならをしました。

They waved and said sayounara to their parents as the train pulled out.

From the examples above, it seems that one expects the other party (who is present at the
same location with him) to say "sayounara" before leaving. This means that when a person
says "sayounara", it is because he wants to signal to his interlocutor that he is leaving. This
coincides with Duranti (1997)’s suggestion that meanings of leave-taking words are closely
linked to their social functions and one of the primary functions is to signal one's departure.
This aspect of "leaving" are captured with words like "disappeared" in example (7) or "left"
in example (8). Thus, it is appropriate to include a component in the explication of
"sayounara" which expresses the intention of speakers to inform the other party that he is
leaving.

One of the most important aspect that set “sayounara” apart from other Japanese leave-taking
words is the time period that the speakers project to be apart from each other after saying
“sayounara” .

(10)「ではさようなら、私が死んでも、私をすっかりは忘れないでくれ。」

“Sayounara, do not forget me entirely, even if I die.”

(11) 苦しくなっちゃったから、さようならを言おう

As [the situation] has become so tough, let me say sayounara.

It is highlighted that “sayounara” is often used in situations where interlocutors do not see
each other for a long time. People say “sayounara” to their friends when graduating from
schools or to their colleagues when changing jobs [SOURCE]. In various posts by native
speakers on different forum such as [SOURCE] , [SOURCE] , and [SOURCE], “sayounara”
has a component of finality. Because of this sense of finality in "sayounara", Japanese native
Name of reviewer: Steven Reviewee’s student number: A0156658N
Name of reviewee: Nguyen Vu My Linh
College: CAPT.1
Date of submission:16042018

speakers do not use it frequently in their daily life. According to one survey conducted by
LivedoorNews, 70% of respondents suggest that they do not use "sayounara" to signal
departure in daily conversation. In fact, one only uses it when he does not expect to see the
interlocutor in a long time or even never see him again. In example (10), the speaker asks his
interlocutor to not forget him, implying that he does not expect to see the other party any time
soon. (MORE DETAILS ON CONTEXT PLS)

Another example which suggests a sense of finality in the meaning of "sayounara" is that this
word is often used by attendees at the funerals. [SOURCE]

Therefore, the explication should include a component which suggests speakers’ thought of

“not seeing this someone for a very long time.”

People who disagree with my proposed explication will argue that there are cases where
"sayounara" is used even when the interlocutors are meeting again within a short period of
time. These cases are illustrated by the two examples below.

(12)じゃあ、さようなら、又明日会おうぜ」私は大きな声で、

"Well then, sayounara, see you tomorrow " I greeted with a loud voice

(13) では今晩またね、さようなら

See you tonight, then. "Sayounara"

Opponents of my suggestion may also cite the case where “sayounara” is said by primary

pupils to their teachers every day after class.

Although these examples appear to contradict my aforementioned explication, upon more

careful examination, they do not actually invalidate my suggestion, but rather strengthen it.

Firstly, in examples (12) and (13), “sayounara” is used with phrases like 「また」- “mata”
Name of reviewer: Steven Reviewee’s student number: A0156658N
Name of reviewee: Nguyen Vu My Linh
College: CAPT.1
Date of submission:16042018

(see you)＋time phrases" to make clear to both parties that reunion is planned. The fact that

speakers tend to use time phrases together with "sayounara" to signal the possibility of
reunion could mean that "sayounara" itself suggests otherwise. In other to prevent their
interlocutors from getting the wrong message (of long separation time), speakers add details
of reunion in the cases where they are going to meet the other parties not too long after.

In the other example, when children say "sayounara" to their teachers, it might be the case
that they use it as a conventional term which carries little meaning. The speakers (who are
children) in this case may not be aware of the subtle nuances that the meaning of “sayounara”
constitutes. In fact, Japanese natives start to use other leave-taking words more than
“sayounara” when they leave primary school. [SOURCES]

What I feel when I say it?

In this section, I would like to explore the feelings that a speaker appears to have when he
says "sayounara". There are two types of feelings to be discussed. One is his feeling towards
his interlocutor and second is his feeling towards the situation when he needs to say
“sayounara”.

(6)「そう。お大事になさいませ。さようなら」

"Yes, please take good care of yourself. Sayounara"

(14)彼女は笑顔でさよならと言ったが、心の中はとても辛かった。

She said sayounara with a smile, but there was a good deal of bitterness in her heart.

(15) 悲しかったけれど、彼女 はにっとり若いって彼にさようなら。

Sad as she was, she said "sayounara" to him with a smile.

In sentence (6), the speaker expressed his worries when his interlocutor was having headache
and asked her to take care before saying “sayounara”. In sentences (14) and (15), the speakers
Name of reviewer: Steven Reviewee’s student number: A0156658N
Name of reviewee: Nguyen Vu My Linh
College: CAPT.1
Date of submission:16042018

say "sayounara" with a smile, suggesting that they have positive feelings towards the other
parties. From the above examples, it seems that one expresses a “warm” feeling towards his
interlocutor when saying “sayounara”.

What’s more, in examples (14) and (15), words like "bitterness in her heart" and "sad"
suggest that when "sayounara" is said, the speakers are expressing some kind of "sad"
feelings. These two examples are just a few representatives of many examples found in the
corpus where the situations are depicted to be a bit gloomy. This “sad” feeling of the
speakers towards the situation may be directly linked to the aspect of “long separation”
associated with "sayounara". The reason why speakers “do not feel good about the situation"
may stem from the observation that the speakers "feels good" towards the interlocutors but
yet need to part away from the interlocutors for a very long time.

[1255 words]

Explication of 「さようなら」 “sayounara”

Let “sayounara” be X.

I think about you like this:

“You are someone I know well”

“You are not someone like me”

I have been in this place for some time.

You have been in this place for some time.
I have done something with you for some time

I know now: “After a short time from now,

I will not be with you anymore.

I will not see you for a very long time.”

Name of reviewer: Steven Reviewee’s student number: A0156658N
Name of reviewee: Nguyen Vu My Linh
College: CAPT.1
Date of submission:16042018

Because of this, I say X to you.

When I say X, I feel good towards you

[But] I don’t feel food that I can’t see you more.

After I say X, I am not at the same place with you.

The meaning of “goodbye”

The relationship between the interlocutors.

(16) Tai said goodbye to me. We hugged.

(17) The air went so dead the phone itself seemed to grow bored enough to whistle. " Are you
there, Agnes? " - " I'm here, Leo. I'm right here. Goodbye, my beloved, darling boy. "

(18) Abbott is visibly afraid of Wyatt and does his best to stay out of arm's reach as he
saunters for the exit. " Goodbye, Lawman. I'll miss you. " - " See that you do. "

Similar to “sayounara”, one is able to use goodbye with others’ first name, as illustrated in
sentence (17) and (18). This clearly indicate that the interlocutors know each other. In
sentence (16), the speaker hugged the other party after saying “goodbye”. In sentence (17),
the speaker uses words like “my beloved, darling boy” to address his interlocutor. These
examples, suggest there is a certain relationship established among the interlocutors which
can be even intimate.

(19) She said goodbye to all her friends and left.

(20) Goodbye, Roberto, and thanks again for a great dinner

Some may argue that “goodbye” is considered more formal than its variation “bye” and “bye
bye” and therefore, it is possible to speculate that one may think of his interlocutor as “not
Name of reviewer: Steven Reviewee’s student number: A0156658N
Name of reviewee: Nguyen Vu My Linh
College: CAPT.1
Date of submission:16042018

someone like me”. However, formality of a word is rather a scale and not just either formal or
informal [SOURCE]. Although it is true that “goodbye” is more formal than the other two
words, the fact that “goodbye” is used quite often among friends as illustrated in sentence
(16) may suggest that one actually thinks of his interlocutor as “someone like me”. Also, in
sentence (18) and (20), the speakers’ addressing their interlocutors by first names also
implies this way of thinking.

The prototypical scenario of “goodbye”

According to etymological researches, "goodbye" is originated from the word "godbwye”,

which was a contraction of the parting phrase "Good be with ye!". It conveys a blessing or
prayer that person upon whom its bestowed will leave safely. The substitution of "good" for
"God" seems to have mainly due to the influence of phrases such as "good morning" and
"good night". Considering the original meaning of “goodbye”, it is appropriate to say that
when one says “goodbye”, he is sending well wishes to the other party, which is captured
with a component such as "I want to say something GOOD to you".

(21) We parted ways shortly before noon and under a brilliant, sunny sky we said goodbye.’

(22) "I brush my teeth, quickly change into my clothes, and slap together all my stuff for the
day. I slip on my shoes and am out the door with only a quick "goodbye!”.

(23) "And as Taylor gave her dad hugs and kisses goodbye, and she said goodbye to dad and
said, I'm going next door.'

As a leave-taking word, goodbye share a similar social function of "sayounara" and many
other leave-taking phrases which is to signal departure. As reflected in example (21), (22)
and(23), one says "goodbye" to inform the other party that they are leaving.

Expected time apart

Name of reviewer: Steven Reviewee’s student number: A0156658N
Name of reviewee: Nguyen Vu My Linh
College: CAPT.1
Date of submission:16042018

This component is a differentiating point between “sayounara” and “goodbye”.

In English, there is another leave-taking word "farewell" which associates with long
separation time. I would therefore argue that when one wants to convey the thought that he
would not meet the other party for a long period of time, “farewell” would be preferably
employed instead of “goodbye”.

(24) "Sadly, he didn't know what burned his blackened soul more. The poisoned knife wound
or the raw fact that as he sat here bleeding out, he had no one to call and say a
final goodbye to."

Good-bye can have a nuance of finality in some cases, but this aspect can only be conveyed
effectively with the aid of context or tone of voice. In example (24), the word “final” helps to
indicate a long separation time which might not be reflected by “goodbye” alone. When we
remove the context and tone, the word “goodbye” itself does not suggest that the two
interlocutors will be parted for a prolonged period. The observation that “goodbye” is used in
daily conversation [SOURCE] implies that a component of its meaning suggest that the
interlocutors will meet again in a short to medium period of time.

What I feel when I say it?

(25) "No, I'll never be ready to say goodbye to these people, " the actress told Fox News. "
I'm so interested in all of them. I'm so invested. But, it's nice I guess to leave the party while
everyone still loves you... It's going to be hard to say goodbye."

(26) The air went so dead the phone itself seemed to grow bored enough to whistle. " Are you
there, Agnes? " # " I'm here, Leo. I'm right here. Goodbye, my beloved, darling boy. "

(27) Abbott is visibly afraid of Wyatt and does his best to stay out of arm's reach as he
saunters for the exit. – “Goodbye, Lawman. I'll miss you.”- “See that you do.”

(28) We say goodbye, demanding that each other look after ourselves and the best of luck.
Name of reviewer: Steven Reviewee’s student number: A0156658N
Name of reviewee: Nguyen Vu My Linh
College: CAPT.1
Date of submission:16042018

From the above examples, it seems that the speakers think of his interlocutors dearly. This
idea implied by words such as “interested in”, “beloved”, “darling” and phrases like “I’ll
miss you”, “the best of luck”. This positive feeling towards the interlocutors will be captured

by a component like “I feel good towards you.”

Different from the meaning “sayounara” which includes a component that suggests speakers’
“sad” towards the situations, for “goodbye”, it seems that generally, speakers are neutral
towards the situation when they say “goodbye”

(22)"I brush my teeth, quickly change into my clothes, and slap together all my stuff for the
day. I slip on my shoes and am out the door with only a quick "goodbye!”

(29) We said goodbye casually before Christmas, exchanged gifts (books for books, of
course) and arranged to meet in January.

In the above examples, there is little indication of any feelings involved when the speakers
say “goodbye”. In example (22), the speaker says a “quick goodbye” to his interlocutor to
signal his departure and it seems that he spares little emotion on this leave-taking. In example
(28), the interlocutors say “goodbye” “casually” to each other, which again, does not suggest
any emotions involved.

Although in some situations, the speakers may have some kind of “sad” feelings towards the
situation; the examples where speakers say “goodbye” apparently without any feelings at all
far exceed the examples where sad emotion is involved. This may be linked to the fact that
the separation time associated with the meaning of “goodbye” is not too long and therefore,
there is not a need to have strong feelings towards the situation.

Explication of “goodbye”

Let “goodbye” be Y
Name of reviewer: Steven Reviewee’s student number: A0156658N
Name of reviewee: Nguyen Vu My Linh
College: CAPT.1
Date of submission:16042018

I think about you like this:

“You are someone I know well”

“You are someone like me”

I have been in this place for some time.

You have been in this place for some time.
I have done something with you for some time

I know now: “After a short time from now,

I will not be with you anymore.

I will not see you for some time.”

Because of this, I say something good like Y to you.

When I say Y, I feel good towards you

After I say Y, I am not at the same place with you.