{"id":21274,"date":"2016-10-12T21:00:17","date_gmt":"2016-10-12T12:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?p=21274"},"modified":"2020-04-20T12:25:22","modified_gmt":"2020-04-20T03:25:22","slug":"japanese-language-dialects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/japanese-language-dialects\/","title":{"rendered":"Make Friends with Japanese Dialects – Things you should know!"},"content":{"rendered":"
I recently told a friend of mine that I want to go live in the Tsugaru region of Aomori for a little while. Tsugaru is the home of the Tsugaru shamisen, and I figured I could spend a few months there learning the shamisen and practicing my Japanese. However my friend quickly shouted \u201cAkan de<\/strong>!\u201d<\/p>\n
nan shit\u014d to?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
<\/p>\n
Tohoku-ben<\/h3>\n
Whilst it\u2019s probably unfair to ground all the dialects that fall under Tohuku-ben together, I shall do that. Tohuku-ben is by far the most distant dialect from standard Japanese, and so distant sounding that most non Tohuku people are not able to easily understand it. The dialect is marked by a more laid back sound, and the S sounding more like a Z. For example Sushi would sounds more like Zuzji. This relaxed sound has earned the dialect to have a reputation as a country bumpkin dialect, and so the younger generations especially tend not to use it. If you are looking for a challenge though, this is the dialect for you.<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t understand<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
<\/p>\n
Some words are completely different but some sort of start out the same, right?<\/p>\n
One explanation for the difference in the words that are similar is because Okinawan has different set of consonants and vowels than Japanese dialects. The completely different words are pure Okinawan, but the similar words are probably taken and shaped from Japanese (like Englishs use of Phobia from Phobos, etc.)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Osaka-ben in focus, let’s learn some words!<\/h2>\n
If you want to learn another dialect to surprise your friends whilst in Japan, I think Kansai \/ Osaka-ben is the best. As it\u2019s the easiest to actually hear you won\u2019t feel as out of place using it, and it\u2019s also perceivably cool. Furthermore, Osaka people are very friendly and fiercely proud of Osaka. Simply talk in an Osakian accent and bellow your support for the Hanshin Tigers at any Izakaya, and you will make friends in no time!<\/p>\n
On pronunciation<\/h3>\n
As for pronunciation, it\u2019s a little hard to explain and your best bet is to learn from a native speaker. As a rule of thumb, slur your words together and roll your r\u2019s in the more \u201cmacho\u201d phrases. So for example \u201cNande ya nen!?\u201d sounds more like \u201cNandeeyahnen!?\u201d Besides that the high and low points of pronunciation are often reversed or made livelier in Kansai ben.<\/p>\n
And with that new knowledge, I say to you (hint. \u201cchauchau\u201d is a dog)<\/p>\n
\u201cAre, chauchau chau? Chau chau, chauchau chau n chau?\u201d<\/p>\n
Wakaran?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s Learn Japanese Dialects!<\/h2>\n
Here I have collected a list of websites you can visit to learn the various dialects mentioned in this article. If you intent to spend some time in Hakata, why not study a few phrases and impress the locals.<\/p>\n