Hokkaido dialects
Hokkaido dialect | |
---|---|
Native to | Japan |
Region | Hokkaido |
Japonic
| |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | – |
Glottolog | hokk1249 |
IETF | ja-u-sd-jp01 |
The dialect or dialects of Hokkaido (
The relationship of Hokkaidō dialect to the rest of Japanese—and whether there even is a coherent Hokkaidō dialect—are the subject of debate. Shibata (2003) mentions three theories:[1]
- Inland varieties are part of the Kantō dialect, while coastal varieties are part of the Tōhoku dialect
- There is a single Hokkaidō dialect, which is a distinct branch of Eastern Japanese
- There is a Hokkaidō dialect, but it descends from Niigata dialect (one of the Tōkai–Tōsan dialects), a transitional form with Western Japanese features.
Tōhoku influence is strongest in coastal areas, especially on the Oshima Peninsula in the south, where the local variety is commonly called Hama-kotoba (
Also spoken on Hokkaidō is the Ainu language, which was in wide use there before Japanese settlement and still has a few elderly speakers.
Expressions[edit]
- The -re imperative form for ichidan verbs and s-irregular verb instead of Standard form -ro
- The volitional and presumptive suffix -be; from Tohoku dialect
- The presumptive suffix -sho or -ssho; contraction of Standard polite presumptive form deshō
- tōkibi for "corn" instead of Standard tōmorokoshi; also used in many Japanese dialects
- shibareru for "to freeze, freezing cold" instead of Standard kogoeru; from Tohoku dialect
- nageru for "to throw away" instead of Standard suteru; from Tohoku dialect; nageru means "to throw" in Standard
- waya for "fruitless, no good" instead of Standard dame; from Western Japanese
- shitakke for casual "good-bye" or "then" instead of Standard (sore) ja
- namara for "very" instead of Standard totemo; since the 1970s from Niigata dialect