Japanese Dialects: A Linguistic Journey By Japan

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Japan is the one nation claiming Japanese as its official language, with over 123 million native audio system. Nevertheless, they don’t all solely communicate customary Japanese—a number of Japanese dialects give a glimpse into native tradition and historical past. Chances are you’ll know say “hello” in customary Japanese, however have you learnt say it in Osaka?

Whether or not you’re visiting Japan or need to perceive an uncommon dialect in your favourite Japanese present, this information gives an summary of seven distinctive dialects so that you can discover. Prepare for a linguistic journey from the northern island all the way in which all the way down to the southernmost reaches of Japan!

What’s the distinction between a dialect and an accent?

A dialect is a variant of a language that features some variations in vocabulary, pronunciation,  and grammar whereas nonetheless being comprehensible because the language it comes from. An accent refers solely to variations in pronunciation. 

Two completely different English dialects are American English and British English. The presence or absence of a “u” in “colour” versus “color” and referring to waste as “rubbish” or “garbage” are two examples of the distinction in dialect. In the meantime, each dialects embody dozens of accents relying on area.

When discussing Japanese language dialects, these three particular phrases might help you distinguish them:

• hōgen (方言): Actually that means “dialect” in Japanese, this refers to dialects which might be categorized by their phonology, grammar, and vocabulary. For instance, Tōhoku hōgen refers back to the dialect(s) spoken within the Tōhoku area of Japan, which spans six prefectures.
• namari (なまり): The variations in accent and intonation as in comparison with customary Japanese.
• ben (弁): The suffix added to the top of a metropolis or area title to point that place’s particular dialect. For instance, Nagoya-ben refers back to the distinctive dialect spoken within the metropolis of Nagoya.

Usually talking, most grammar guidelines are constant throughout Japanese dialects. For instance, even when a phrase is conjugated otherwise, the Japanese phrase order stays the identical. Conversely, many dialects have their very own variations of widespread Japanese greetings.

What number of Japanese dialects are there?

Relying on how “dialect” is outlined, there are anyplace between 16 and greater than 40 Japanese dialects. The distinction relies on whether or not a single dialect consists of slight variations inside a area or if every variation must be thought of its personal dialect.

The Japanese archipelago has 47 prefectures throughout 4 important islands, listed right here from north to south:

• Hokkaidō (北海道)
• Honshū (本州) 
• Shikoku (四国)
• Kyūshū (九州)

The Japanese pronunciation and dialect thought of the usual for contemporary Japanese is the one spoken in Tokyo, the capital of Japan. It’s known as hyōjungo (標準語) and it’s the dialect taught nationwide and to new learners of Japanese.

7 most well-known Japanese dialects 

There are slight linguistic variations in Japanese by prefecture—and even particular to some cities—however this chart lists seven of essentially the most well-known Japanese dialects.

Kansai-ben

The Kansai-ben dialect is spoken by a big space on the western aspect of the primary island of Japan, stretching over six prefectures. It’s immediately recognizable for many native Japanese audio system resulting from its prevalence in popular culture. In cartoons, the characters talking Kansai dialect in Japanese typically play a comedy position, because the dialect and accent has come to be related to a laid-back and carefree persona.

The 2 most well-known variants of Kansai-ben are these present in Kyoto and Osaka, which have barely completely different accents. Because the culturally-rich, previous Japanese capital, Kyoto is taken into account to have the extra even, softer inflection of the 2.

This dialect in Japanese consists of one important distinction from different dialects:

• In Kansai-ben, the damaging conjugation -nai adjustments to -hen.
  • Wakarahen.（分からへん。）= Wakaranai.（分からない。）= I don’t perceive.

Nagoya-ben

The dialect spoken in Nagoya, the capital of Aichi prefecture, is Nagoya-ben. Nevertheless, the east area of the prefecture speaks a unique dialect known as Mikawa-ben (三河弁). Notable grammatical traits of Nagoya-ben embody: 

• The phrase for “please” adjustments from kudasai (ください) to chō (ちょう).
  • Kiitechō!（聞いてちょう！）= Kiitekudasai（聞いてください！）= Please, pay attention!
• The current progressive verb conjugation -teiru adjustments to -toru and the damaging conjugation -nai to -sen.
  • Tsukaretoru mon de, ikasen.（疲れとるもんで、行かせん。）= Tsukareteiru kara, ikanai.（今疲れているから、行かない。）= I’m drained, so I’m not going.

Hakata-ben

Generally known as Fukuoka-ben (福岡弁), Hakata-ben is primarily spoken in Fukuoka prefecture on the western important island, Kyūshū. It shares a number of traits with different dialects spoken in Kyūshū, however its accent is exclusive.

• Hakata-ben is common for its accent, which is extensively thought of to be a “cute” Japanese accent. 
• The sentence-ending particle yo (よ) notably adjustments to tai (たい) or bai (ばい).

Hiroshima-ben

Hiroshima-ben is spoken within the prefecture of Hiroshima, nevertheless it’s used all through the southwest area of Japan on the sting of the primary island of Honshū. Attributable to depictions in popular culture, the Hiroshima dialect will be perceived as tough and mafia-like.

• Some particles are dropped totally, such because the particle for motion, ni (に), and the one for expressing ideas, to (と).
  • Tabe iku.（食べ行く。）= Tabe ni iku.（食べに行く。）= I’m going out to eat.
  • Itashii omou.（いたしいおもう。）= Muzukashii to omou.（難しいと思う。）= I feel it’s troublesome.

Sendai-ben

Sendai is the capital of Miyagi prefecture, and its dialect consists of many elements of the dialects spoken within the Tōhoku area on the north finish of Honshū. It’s not often heard exterior of the area resulting from a damaging stereotype that means Sendai-ben lacks refinement and is related to rural areas far-off from cities.  

• The accent used with Sendai-ben turns distinct phonemes in customary Japanese into comparable sounds and sometimes mix collectively into one lengthy sound. For instance, the phrases for lion (shishi, 獅子) and sushi would each sound like “soo-soo.”

Hokkaidō-ben

Hokkaidō-ben is extra much like customary Japanese than different dialects. The big northern island of Hokkaidō was solely annexed in 1869. It was traditionally populated by the indigenous Ainu individuals, and the native Ainu language is now spoken by solely a handful of individuals. A number of dialects melded collectively to turn out to be what’s now referred to as Hokkaidō-ben, however some regional linguistic traits stay.

• Winter temperatures in Hokkaidō are constantly beneath freezing with round 15 meters of snowfall yearly. When the phrase “chilly” simply isn’t sufficient, you need to use the verb shibareru (しばれる)!
  • Kotoshi no oshōgatsu wa namara shibareru ne!（今年のお正月はなまらしばれるね！）= New Yr’s this 12 months is positively arctic!

Uchinā Yamatuguchi

The distinctive dialect of Uchinā Yamatuguchi is spoken in Okinawa prefecture, which consists of a number of small islands trailing off the south of Kyūshū. Like Hokkaidō, Okinawa was annexed comparatively lately in 1879. The indigenous Ryukyuan language was discouraged in favor of Japanese, much like the historical past between the US and the state of Hawaii. Whereas the Ryukyuan and Japanese languages are distinct from each other, traces of the native language will be discovered blended in with the Okinawan Japanese spoken on the islands. 

• The title Uchinā Yamatuguchi is a mix of the unique title of Okinawa (Uchinā), Yamato (an previous title for Japan), and guchi (口) which is one phrase for “language.”
• Sure phonemes are utilized in Okinawan Japanese that aren’t in the usual dialect, similar to “fe” (ふぇ), “tu” (とぅ), and “gua” (ぐぁ).

Grasp your Japanese dialect and accent with Rosetta Stone

When you select to go to Japan, it’s value testing dialects spoken within the area you’re visiting. Even when you communicate customary Japanese your self, understanding others means turning into aware of what makes a spot linguistically particular! 

To get a basis in Japanese dialects and accents, immersing your self within the language is crucial. Rosetta Stone’s Dynamic Immersion technique gives you with audio recorded by native audio system and the TruAccent speech recognition engine to strengthen your comprehension and pronunciation each step of the way in which.