Language spoken in Okinawa

[Mrsphillips777]

This may be a silly question...oh well. I heard that in Okinawa they have a specific dialect. If I wanted to visit Okinawa and know at least some of the language could I just learn some Japanese or do I have to learn the words in the Okinawan dialect?

[okisteve]

Just learn Japanese. Everyone speaks standard Japanese but the dialect (Uchinanguchi) is mainly still used only by older people.

[Tony Stacks]

Just learn Japanese. Everyone speaks standard Japanese but the dialect (Uchinanguchi) is mainly still used only by older people.

Is that Hogan?

[Muku]

Is that Hogan?

Yes Tony it is hougen.:)

[Mrsphillips777]

Thanks! I was hoping that was the case because I couldn't find any info on how to speak a certain dialect, just Japanese.

[Jazz]

Although the majority speaks Japanese. Hougen is an interesting dialect, especially if you already know a little Japanese.

I was actually surprised to find that even those Okinawan people in Okinawa who speak mainly Japanese, they also throw quite a few Hougen words in the mix. Some words are hougen and I always assumed they were Japanese. I've said things in "OKinawan Japanese" in front of or to a Naicha (mainlander) before and they're like, huh? Like hasiyo(sp?), (tabun), (maybe).

Japanese would be the language to study before coming here but a brief overview of the local dialect may be useful.

Check this out - http://www.okinawan-shorinryu.com/okinawa/uchina.html

[Sex Wax]

I usually speak Drunk-enese-lish. It is an alcohol induced babble of the words I know in Japanese, and the words I mis-use in English.


:thumbup1:

[TheNoNamedOne]

This may be a silly question...oh well. I heard that in Okinawa they have a specific dialect. If I wanted to visit Okinawa and know at least some of the language could I just learn some Japanese or do I have to learn the words in the Okinawan dialect?

Neither. Most Okinawans and Japanese for the last few decades have gone through 6 years of English language learning from Junior High School to High School. Some foreigners have lived long here without ever learning Japanese or hougen.

Communication will be no problem. Between their English ability and hand gestures from you and them, communication will be fine.

You will understand them when they want to tell you something is a "pen". Or when they ask you how many brothers and sisters you have or when they tell you their hobby is driving. Oh, and they'll heap tons of praises on you if you can use chopsticks.

Good luck, and hope you have a nice trip here.

[okisteve]

I always get that obachan who speaks to me in hogan as if I understand it:-|

You need to pick one of the younger girls next time!<3<3

[didueatmycake]

no, no okinawan dialect. lol

that's like going to texas and learning southern accent to speak english. (well, not reallly lol)

but yeah, don't worry about okinawan dialect. that's gonna make it even more complicated

[hankypanky]

no, no okinawan dialect. lol

that's like going to texas and learning southern accent to speak english. (well, not reallly lol)

but yeah, don't worry about okinawan dialect. that's gonna make it even more complicated

sorry, texas is alittle more proper english than southern draw from alabama or mississippi. they got it down pat:D

[Vincent]

I really can't understand the spolen Japanese here. When I visit mainland their Japanese is a phonetic match to standardized writing you can find in a book, but over here it sounds 'thicker'. For example, my JP teacher at University of Maryland is Okinawan, and she pronounced 'desu ka' more like 'desun ga'. I'm no fluent expert but if the dialect is supposedly dying out, there's at least an accent to look out for.

[DougP]

I really can't understand the spolen Japanese here. When I visit mainland their Japanese is a phonetic match to standardized writing you can find in a book, but over here it sounds 'thicker'. For example, my JP teacher at University of Maryland is Okinawan, and she pronounced 'desu ka' more like 'desun ga'. I'm no fluent expert but if the dialect is supposedly dying out, there's at least an accent to look out for.

Do you know anybody from Osaka? :D

[P_chan]

Do you know anybody from Osaka? :D

Or Kyoto? Or do they speak the same dialect? I don't understand what she is saying but I can tell the difference between my wife's dialect and her friends from osaka.