Usage of お+[verb stem]+する for humble form and お+[verb stem]+になる for honorific form


Apart from using verb-specific humble and honorific versions (e.g. 参る < 行く <
いらっしゃる), the general method of turning a verb into humble is by using お+[verb
stem aka 連用形]+する while the general method of turning a verb into honorific is
by using お+[verb stem aka 連用形]+になる. For example:

> Neutral: 泊まります  
>  Humble: お泊まりします  
>  Honorific: お泊まりになります

Linguistically, how do the two constructions respectively introduce the
honorific and humble nuances to the verb, i.e +になる introduces honorific-ness
while +する introduces humbleness? What are their origins?




In both forms, the `お + [verb stem]` is acting like a noun. The humble form is
analogous to the `[verbal noun] + する` construction like `勉強する` and the `お +
[verb stem]` in an honorific form is followed by `に` which indicates that this
part is a noun. Verb stems often can be used as a noun, but that does not seem
to be the case with these constructions as you cannot create the forms without
`お`.

> × 泊まりします  
>  × 泊まりになります

So what `お` is doing, besides introducing politeness, is somehow enforcing
that `お + [verb stem]` will be handled as nominal, allowing it to be used
within these constructions.

As for the honorific form, one strategy often used in Japanese is to somehow
remove the agentivity from the person to be honorified. For example, a way to
refer to a person with honor is to use directional/locational demonstratives
`こちら`, `そちら`, `あちら`, `どちら` rather than the ordinary personal pronouns `彼`,
`彼女`. One way of honorifying the subject is to handle that subject as a place
rather than a person:

> 天皇におかれましては、...  
>  'At (the location of) the emperor, ...'

With the use of the verb `なる` 'become', the agentivity is removed; becoming
something is not volitional. That is presumably the origin of this honorific
form. The reason why removing agentivity counts as honorifying is probably
because it frees the agent from responsibility occuring from the action.

I have no idea why the humble form is like that.




In both forms, the `お + [verb stem]` is acting like a noun. The humble form is
analogous to the `[verbal noun] + する` construction like `勉強する` and the `お +
[verb stem]` in an honorific form is followed by `に` which indicates that this
part is a noun. Verb stems often can be used as a noun, but that does not seem
to be the case with these constructions as you cannot create the forms without
`お`.

> × 泊まりします  
>  × 泊まりになります

So what `お` is doing, besides introducing politeness, is somehow enforcing
that `お + [verb stem]` will be handled as nominal, allowing it to be used
within these constructions.

As for the honorific form, one strategy often used in Japanese is to somehow
remove the agentivity from the person to be honorified. For example, a way to
refer to a person with honor is to use directional/locational demonstratives
`こちら`, `そちら`, `あちら`, `どちら` rather than the ordinary personal pronouns `彼`,
`彼女`. One way of honorifying the subject is to handle that subject as a place
rather than a person:

> 天皇におかれましては、...  
>  'At (the location of) the emperor, ...'

With the use of the verb `なる` 'become', the agentivity is removed; becoming
something is not volitional. That is presumably the origin of this honorific
form. The reason why removing agentivity counts as honorifying is probably
because it frees the agent from responsibility occuring from the action.

I have no idea why the humble form is like that.

