Kumamoto dialect

Kumamoto dialect is called Kumamoto-ben. I would like to tell you about Kumamoto-ben.


1. Sorts of Kumamoto-ben
Kumamoto-ben has two types. It is spoken in the southern part and the northern part, in Kumamoto.
<Place>
The southern part:  Yatsushiro, Ashikita, Kuma and Amakusa
The northern part: Aso, Kamimashiki and except the southern part


2. Peculiarity of Kumamoto-ben
Accent of Kumamo-ben is also discriminated between two things.
<Accent>
The earstern part: No accent
The western part: Two model accent

<Geminate Consonant>

example. Dadden = Daredemo (Whoever), Dodden = Doredemo (Whichever)

<Adjective>
Almost Japanese adjective finish -i. Kumamoto-ben adjective changes -i to -ka the end of adjective.
ex.  akai (red) = akaka, ookii (big) = ookika

<Case Particle>
Japanese case particle has -wo. Kumamoto-ben case particle changes -wo to -ba.
ex. Watashi ha mizu wo nomu. (I drink water.) = Watashi ha mizu ba nomu.

<Suffix>
Kumamoto-ben is attached -bai and -tai at the end of a sentence. The difference between -bai and -tai. -bai is used direct yourself things, -tai is used indirect yourself things.
ex. Asobou bai! = Asobouyo! (Let's play together!)
ex. Syukudai ba senan tai. = Syukudai wo sinasaiyo. (You have to do your homework.)

3. Honorific expression
Many people thinks  that Kumamoto-ben is rough. But, it has Honorific language, and Kumamoto-jin has mind of respect.
Honorific language of eat
ex. Ke-ki wo meshiagare. (Please help yourself to the cake.) = Ke-ki wo oagari.

Honorific language of come
ex. Sensei ga irassyatta. (Teacher was coming.) = Sensei ga kinasatta.


4. Related to comic
Kumamoto-ben is known not only Kumamoto but also other place.  Because, some cartoonists uses Kumamoto-ben in their comics. Housaku Samon is charactor in Kyojin no Hoshi. He use Kumamoto-ben in this story, and he made Kumamoto known in Japanse. In Crayon Shinchan story, Misae Nohara used Kumamoto-ben with her perents and her sisters, she comes from Aso in Kumamoto. In Keroro Gunsou (Sergeant Frog) also use it, this comic is written by Mine Yoshizaki. He visited Kumamoto, when he was a boy. His characters uses it  many time.



Samon



Sergeant Frog




Misae

 




5. This is Kumamoto-ben
Kumamoto-ben has understanding words only Kumamoto-jin. You should study about it, before you will come to Kumamoto. 
Kogyan = In this way, Sogyan = Like that, Agyan = In that way, Dogyan = How
Atozeki = Shuting the door, when you finished using a room.
Sasiyori = First of all


6. My impressions...
It is difficult for me to translate Kumamoto-ben into English. Specially, honorific language part was so difficult. Because, English hasn't many honorific expressions. But, I learned about Kumamoto-ben deeply. I didn't know things!! And, I can't tell you about Kumamoto all things. Could you study by yourself? I tell you some sites. You  refer to it, please.

▼Sources of information
→http://www.kumamotokokufu-h.ed.jp/kumamoto/hougen/k_h-1ran.html

→http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/熊本弁

→http://www.kumamotokokufu-h.ed.jp/kumamoto/hougen/keigo.html

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