A Question About Ore vs. Boku vs. Watashi

[lavaliere]

I think we've all had enough with posts relating to Episode 19, yes? Even if I still get teary-eyed just thinking about it So, let's have a bit of a discussion.

Forgive me if this has been discussed before. I haven't seen a post on it, so....

Even those of us who completely fail at moonspeak Japanese are able to pick up certain words and phrases at times. I do this, myself, from time to time. And so, going back to watch the first season again, I picked up on something I hadn't before. Zero refers to himself with the watashi form of me or I whereas Lelouch uses ore.

Now, I understand that the way a person refers to themselves depends greatly on their personality. Someone who is more polite tends to use boku or watashi while a guy who is more self-assured might use ore. Those that are very self-assured, or even egotistic might use ore-sama.

We know that Suzaku switches between ore and boku usually when he's affected by the Live Geass or certain aspects of his past. But why does Lelouch switch between ore as his usual self and watashi as Zero? Is it just to keep people wondering about the true identity of Zero or do you think there's another reason?

I mean, Suzaku seems to differentiate between Zero and Lelouch, choosing to see them as two seperate people at times. Rolo does it too, sometimes, but not nearly as often as Suzaku and eventually drops the concept all together after Lelouch sways him to his side. Does anyone else do this as well? Does Lelouch see himself and Zero as two different people or does he see them as one and the same? I'm thinking he believes he and Zero are one and the same, so why the use of watashi? Why not even just boku?

Comments

[helreginn.livejournal.com]

Boku isn't overly humble, but usually, it's like you said, more polite and acceptable than ore. Acceptable in the sense how you talk to peers. I remember several characters using both boku and ore, one being Tsuna from Reborn. Tsuna is the type you'd think would use boku in general, but he doesn't. As to ore, I've seen girls use it too. In fact, I heard Nina use it twice. I doubted my ears when I first heard it, but then she uses it only twice. Then there's a character in Reborn, a woman who uses ore. *shrugs*

I meant shounen fandoms. >.>; since I dwell there more than shoujo. KKM does have males using boku. Yuuri, Murata, Wolfram, all use boku. Can't remember what Conrad uses though. Hm.

Seishirou's behaviour is always at odds. I mean, he's always smiling, behaves kindly towards people, and yet, possesses no feelings, so to speak. He takes on an unassuming personality of a mild, meek man. That's how he was with Subaru, and that continued in X. I can't see him talking rudely because he isn't rude. He's always polite, sweet, and deadly. XD (It's a part of what makes him so awesome.)

Hinoto's speech patters make my eyes go @_@

[helreginn.livejournal.com]

PATTERNS* *headdesk*