The choice between te morau and te kureru in discourseIkeya, Tomoko (Avtor) Japanese linguisticsbenefactive constructionsin-group/out-group relationsspeaker–hearer relationshippolitenessThis study examines the distinction between the Japanese benefactive auxiliary constructions te kureru and te morau in discourse. Previous research has attributed their differences mainly to politeness and speaker initiative, but these do not fully explain variation in actual conversations. We argue that hearer group membership (in-group vs. out-group) is a key factor in the choice of expression. Fifty-six Japanese female university students completed a questionnaire in which they selected expressions they would use in hypothetical benefit situations. The results showed a strong preference for te kureru with in-group hearers and te morau with out-group hearers, even in identical situations. These findings suggest that psychological alignment shapes the choice of benefactive expression and that te morau is perceived as more polite because it maintains interpersonal distance.20262026-10-29 13:23:06Članek v reviji190486sl