Previously, we have looked at the HachijΕ language, a Japonic language spoken in the Izu islands and the DaitΕ islands in the south of Japan. Today, we will take a look at Okinawa Prefecture, in which we can find the Ryukyuan languages. The Ryukyuan languages form a distinct branch in the Japonic language family, making … Continue reading Exploring the other languages of Japan (Miyakoan)
Japonic
Exploring the other languages of Japan (Pt 1)
We often like to think of Japanese as a language isolate. After all, it is the language we most often associate with being predominantly spoken in Japan. But as travelers to prefectures like Hokkaido and Okinawa would see, this is not quite the case. After all, Ainu is a language, and a language isolate, mainly … Continue reading Exploring the other languages of Japan (Pt 1)
Speaking Japanese — Understanding Aidzuchi
Verbal communication brings out a lot of colour in a language, way beyond the confines of the materials upon which the language is recorded in. Everyday expressions, slang terms, and other kinds of word variants can be picked up through speaking and listening in a conversational context. Very often, when listening to Japanese conversations, or … Continue reading Speaking Japanese — Understanding Aidzuchi
When Japanese Met Atayal — Yilan Creole Japanese
In 1895, Qing China ceded Taiwan to Japan in the Treaty of Shimonoseki after the first Sino-Japanese War. This began the five decades of Japanese rule of Taiwan. Although the administrative rule ended 75 years ago, the influence of Japanese culture on Taiwan still survives today. In Taiwanese Mandarin, Japanese loanwords are found, such as … Continue reading When Japanese Met Atayal — Yilan Creole Japanese
The Language Closet 