Intro to Sociolinguistics which I took as an extra credit course in Japan during the 2013 semester, studied Japanese linguistics as it pertains to the different regions of Japan. This class was by far one of my favorite classes that I took to fulfil my culture requirements, and even though I had finished that requirement before I had gone to Japan, I decided to take this course because I was becoming more interested in linguistics. This class was structured less formally and was more like a discussion course where we go and discuss certain aspects of linguistic differences around Japan. My favorite part of the course was the final. For the final, got to study a certain aspect of Japanese language as it pertained to either current or Past Japan. I had chosen to look at two of the main dialects in Japan. The more widely spoken, “proper Japanese” of the Kanto region, or the often looked down on, Kansai dialect.
By this time I had already decided that I wanted to continue my education by studying linguistics, but this class was really the first hands on experience I had with looking at language through a cultural and sociological point of view. What I found surprised me even further. I found through my studies that while there was no “accepted” form of Japanese in early Japan, when Kyoto was the capital of Japan, the Kansai dialect was thought of a the “proper Japanese” language and therefore the first Japanese dialect to be used by the general population. The Kansai dialect was first made the original Japanese because at this time no one spoke the same dialect which made it difficult on traders an vendors when making sales to potential clients. After speaking daimyo in Kyoto asking for a “proper” language used in the market Kansai dialect was made that dialect. I found this incredibly interesting because Kansai Dialect is mainly looked down upon by most Japanese citizens today, but it seemed to me that most don’t actually know the history behind the Kansai dialect, and therefore the reason why Kansai people want to keep their dialect instead of speaking the “textbook” Japanese of the Kanto and Tokyo region.
This class gave me perspective of what it means to study Linguistics, and I’m glad to say that at some point I so plan to return to school to study linguistics.
By this time I had already decided that I wanted to continue my education by studying linguistics, but this class was really the first hands on experience I had with looking at language through a cultural and sociological point of view. What I found surprised me even further. I found through my studies that while there was no “accepted” form of Japanese in early Japan, when Kyoto was the capital of Japan, the Kansai dialect was thought of a the “proper Japanese” language and therefore the first Japanese dialect to be used by the general population. The Kansai dialect was first made the original Japanese because at this time no one spoke the same dialect which made it difficult on traders an vendors when making sales to potential clients. After speaking daimyo in Kyoto asking for a “proper” language used in the market Kansai dialect was made that dialect. I found this incredibly interesting because Kansai Dialect is mainly looked down upon by most Japanese citizens today, but it seemed to me that most don’t actually know the history behind the Kansai dialect, and therefore the reason why Kansai people want to keep their dialect instead of speaking the “textbook” Japanese of the Kanto and Tokyo region.
This class gave me perspective of what it means to study Linguistics, and I’m glad to say that at some point I so plan to return to school to study linguistics.
intro_final.docx | |
File Size: | 20 kb |
File Type: | docx |