HONORIFICS
Similar to Japanese, there is a complex system of social class on the islands that is governed by one’s age and role in the community. There are three levels of honorific prefixes/articles for nouns which often attach to the job title or clan surname of the addressed:
“Master” is a title awarded to a clan member for lifetime dedication to their craft, be it glassblowing to fishing to teaching children. “Elder” is a title held by the oldest and most experienced members of the clan, who are often retired. Children are not expected to use the honorifics until around their 14th birthday or at the time they begin their first trade apprenticeship, whichever comes first. It is fairly common to address people in the public sphere with their honorific rather than their first name unless one cohabitates with them.
When one is in a different clan than the addressed and therefore not acquainted with that person’s job or level of mastery, it is common to default to the standalone title “master” (ōse) or their preferred name.
When addressing or speaking about anyone with whom one would use an honorific address, the prefix o- is also used on any verbs.
More politeness: calling people “expert”, “bigger cousin”, “elderly person”, “wise one”, etc.