English speakers, as well as some other western languages, do not have variations in how you speak to someone, regardless of where they stand on the social ladder. Japan, on the other hand, has a system called ‘keigo.’ This refers to the amount of respect your words carry when speaking to an individual or group whom is either beneath you or above you in the workplace. For example, I wouldn’t speak to the CEO in the same way I would a high school student. If I did, I’d probably be fired.