Editing Kansai dialect (section)

== Regional differences ==
[[File:Kinki hougen.png|thumb|300px|Mitsuo Okumura's division theory in 1960s]]
Since Kansai dialect is actually a group of related dialects, not all share the same vocabulary, pronunciation, or grammatical features. Each dialect has its own specific features discussed individually here.

* A division theory of Kansai dialects proposed by Minoru Umegaki in 1962<ref name="Umegaki 1962"/>
** South
*** Outer - southern [[Yamato Province]]
*** Inner - [[Shima Province]], southern [[Ise Province]], [[Kii Province]]
** Central
*** East (areas under the influence of Kyoto dialect) - [[Wakasa Province]] including [[Tsuruga]], [[Ōmi Province]], northern Ise Province, [[Iga Province]], [[Yamashiro Province]], Kuchi-Tanba (southeastern [[Tanba Province]])
*** West (areas under the influence of Osaka dialect) - northern Yamato Province, [[Settsu Province]], [[Kawachi Province]], [[Izumi Province]], [[Harima Province]], [[Awaji Province]]
** North
*** Inner - Oku-Tanba (northwestern Tanba Province), Kuchi-Tango (eastern [[Tango Province]])
*** Outer - Oku-Tango (western Tango Province), [[Tajima Province]]
* A division theory of Kansai dialects proposed by Mitsuo Okumura in 1968<ref name="Okumura 1968"/>
** Central, what is called ''Kansai-ben'' - Yamashiro Province, Settsu Province, Kawachi Province, Izumi Province, northern Yamato Province, southern Tanba Province, most of Ōmi Province, Iga Province
** Outer
*** East - most of Ise Province, part of eastern Ōmi Province
*** West - Harima Province, western Tanba Province
*** South - southern Ise Province, Shima Province, Kii Province, Awaji Province
*** North - northeastern Ōmi Province, northern Tanba Province, southern Tango Province

=== Osaka ===
'''Osaka-ben''' ([[:ja:大阪弁|大阪弁]]) is often identified with Kansai dialect by most Japanese, but some of the terms considered to be characteristic of Kansai dialect are actually restricted to Osaka and its environs. Perhaps the most famous is the term ''mōkarimakka?'', roughly translated as "how is business?", and derived from the verb ''mōkaru'' (儲かる), "to be profitable, to yield a profit". This is supposedly said as a greeting from one Osakan to another, and the appropriate answer is another Osaka phrase, ''maa, bochi bochi denna'' "well, so-so, y'know".

The idea behind ''mōkarimakka'' is that Osaka was historically the center of the merchant culture. The phrase developed among low-class shopkeepers and can be used today to greet a business proprietor in a friendly and familiar way but is not a universal greeting. The latter phrase is also specific to Osaka, in particular the term ''bochi bochi'' (L-L-H-L). This means essentially "so-so": getting better little by little or not getting any worse. Unlike ''mōkarimakka'', ''bochi bochi'' is used in many situations to indicate gradual improvement or lack of negative change. Also, ''bochi bochi'' (H-L-L-L) can be used in place of the standard Japanese ''soro soro'', for instance ''bochi bochi iko ka'' "it is about time to be going".<ref>Kazuo Fudano (2006). {{nihongo||大阪弁「ほんまもん」講座|Ōsaka "Honmamon" Kōza}}. Tokyo: Shinchosha</ref>

In the Edo period, '''Senba-kotoba''' (船場言葉), a social dialect of the wealthy merchants in the [[central business district]] of Osaka, was considered the standard Osaka-ben. It was characterized by the polite speech based on Kyoto-ben and the subtle differences depending on the business type, class, post etc. It was handed down in [[Meiji period|Meiji]], [[Taishō period|Taishō]] and [[Shōwa period|Shōwa]] periods with some changes, but after the [[Pacific War]], Senba-kotoba became nearly an obsolete dialect due to the modernization of business practices. Senba-kotoba was famous for a polite copula ''gowasu'' or ''goasu'' instead of common Osakan copula ''omasu'' and characteristic forms for shopkeeper family mentioned below.

{{chart top|An example of forms of address for shopkeeper family in Senba<ref>Isamu Maeda (1977). {{nihongo||大阪弁|Ōsaka-ben}}. Tokyo: Asahi Shimbun</ref>}}
{{chart/start}}
{{chart| | | | | | | | | | |Gm|~|y|~|Gf| |Gm=''oesan, oehan'' (keeper's mother) |Gf=''oyadansan'' (keeper's father)}}
{{chart| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |!}}
{{chart| | | | | | | | | | |Mo|y|Fa|Mo=''goryonsan'' (keeper's wife)<br/>''inkyo no oehan'' (after retiring)<br/>''okohittsan'' (widow)|Fa=''dansan, danahan'' (shopkeeper)<br/>''goinkyohan'' (after retiring)}}
{{chart| | | | | | | |,|-|-|-|-|-|^|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|.| | | }}
{{chart| | | | | | |Da| | | | | | | | | | | |So|~|SoWi|Da=''itosan, itohan, tōhan'' (keeper's daughter)|So=''bonsan, bonbon'' (keeper's son)<br/>''wakadansan'' (keeper's heir)|SoWi=''wakagoryonsan'' (son's wife)}}
{{chart| |,|-|-|-|v|-|^|-|v|-|-|-|.| | | |,|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|.}}
{{chart|Da1| |Da2| |Da3| |Da4| |So1| |So2| |So3|Da1=''aneitosan'' (eldest daughter)|Da2=''nakaitosan'' (2nd daughter)|Da3=''koitosan, koisan'' (3rd　daughter)|Da4=''koikoisan'' (youngest daughter)|So1=''anibonsan'' (eldest son)|So2=''nakabonsan'' (2nd son)|So3=''kobonsan'' (youngest son)}}
{{chart/end}}
{{chart bottom}}

Southern branches of Osaka-ben, such as '''[[Izumi Province|Senshū]]-ben''' ([[:ja:泉州弁|泉州弁]]) and '''[[Kawachi Province|Kawachi]]-ben''' ([[:ja:河内弁|河内弁]]), are famous for their harsh locution, characterized by trilled "r", the question particle ''ke'', and the second person ''ware''. The farther south in Osaka one goes, the cruder the language is considered to be, with the local Senshū-ben of [[Kishiwada, Osaka|Kishiwada]] said to represent the peak of harshness.<ref>Riichi Nakaba (2005). ''Kishiwada Shonen Gurentai''. Kodansha. {{ISBN|4-06-275074-0}}</ref>

=== Kyoto ===
[[File:Kyoto dialect banner in Demachi.JPG|thumbnail|A banner in Kyoto dialect. The advertisement of shopping street, ''Maido okoshiyasu. Kyō mo ē mon arimasu e'' translates as "Welcome. We have nice goods every day"]]
'''Kyōto-ben''' (京都弁) or '''Kyō-kotoba''' ([[:ja:京言葉|京言葉]]) is characterized by development of politeness and indirectness expressions. Kyoto-ben is often regarded as elegant and feminine dialect because of its characters and the image of [[Gion]]'s ''[[geisha]]'' (''geiko-han'' and ''[[Maiko (geiko)|maiko]]-han'' in Kyoto-ben), the most conspicuous speakers of traditional Kyoto-ben.<ref name="Sato 2009">Ryoichi Sato ed (2009). {{nihongo|都道府県別全国方言辞典|Todōfuken-betsu Zenkoku Hōgen Jiten}}.</ref> Kyoto-ben is divided into the court dialect called ''Gosho kotoba'' (御所言葉) and the citizens dialect called ''Machikata kotoba'' (町方言葉). The former was spoken by court noble before moving the Emperor to Tokyo, and some phrases inherit at a few [[monzeki]]. The latter has subtle difference at each social class such as old merchant families at [[Nakagyō-ku, Kyoto|Nakagyo]], craftsmen at [[Nishijin]] and [[geiko]] at [[Hanamachi]] ([[Gion]], [[Miyagawa-chō]] etc.)

Kyoto-ben was the ''de facto'' standard Japanese from 794 until the 18th century and some Kyoto people are still proud of their accent; they get angry when Tokyo people treat Kyoto-ben as a provincial accent.<ref name="Sato 2009"/> However, traditional Kyoto-ben is gradually declining except in the world of ''geisha'', which prizes the inheritance of traditional Kyoto customs. For example, a famous Kyoto copula ''dosu'', instead of standard ''desu'', is used by a few elders and ''geisha'' now.<ref>Nobusuke Kishie and Fumiko Inoue (1997). {{nihongo|京都市方言の動態|Kyōto-shi Hōgen no Dōtai}}</ref>

The verb inflection ''-haru'' is an essential part of casual speech in modern Kyoto. In Osaka and its environs, ''-haru'' has a certain level of politeness above the base (informal) form of the verb, putting it somewhere between the informal and the more polite ''-masu'' conjugations. However, in Kyoto, its position is much closer to the informal than it is to the polite mood, owing to its widespread use. Kyoto people, especially elderly women, often use -''haru'' for their family and even for animals and weather.<ref>Kayoko Tsuji (2009). {{nihongo|「ハル」敬語考 京都語の社会言語史|Haru Keigo-kō Kyōto-go no Shakaigengo-shi}}. {{ISBN|978-4-89476-416-3}}。</ref>

'''Tango-ben''' ([[:ja:丹後弁|丹後弁]]) spoken in northernmost Kyoto Prefecture, is too different to be regarded as Kansai dialect and usually included in Chūgoku dialect. For example, the copula ''da'', the Tokyo-type accent, the honorific verb ending -''naru'' instead of -''haru'' and the peculiarly diphthong {{IPA|[æː]}} such as {{IPA|[akæː]}} for ''akai'' "red".

=== Hyogo ===

[[Hyōgo Prefecture]] is the largest prefecture in Kansai, and there are some different dialects in the prefecture. As mentioned above, '''Tajima-ben''' ([[:ja:但馬弁|但馬弁]]) spoken in northern Hyōgo, former [[Tajima Province]], is included in the [[Chūgoku dialect]] group alongside Tango-ben of northern Kyōto. The ancient vowel sequence /au/ changed to {{IPA|[oː]}} in many Japanese dialects, but in the Tajima, [[Tottori Prefecture|Tottori]] and [[Izumo Province|Izumo]] dialects, /au/ changed into {{IPA|[aː]}}. Accordingly, the Kansai word ''ahō'' "idiot" is pronounced ''ahaa'' in Tajima-ben.

The dialect spoken in southwestern Hyōgo, former [[Harima Province]] alias Banshū, is called '''[[Banshū dialect|Banshū-ben]]'''. As well as Chūgoku dialect, it has the discrimination of aspect, ''-yoru'' in progressive and ''-toru'' in perfect. Banshū-ben is notable for transformation of ''-yoru'' and ''-toru'' into ''-yō'' and ''-tō'', sometimes ''-yon'' and ''-ton''. Another feature is the honorific copula ''-te ya'', common in [[Tanba Province|Tanba]], [[Maizuru, Kyoto|Maizuru]] and [[San'yō region|San'yō]] dialects. In addition, Banshū-ben is famous for an emphatic final particle ''doi'' or ''doiya'' and a question particle ''ke'' or ''ko'', but they often sound violent to other Kansai speakers, as well as Kawachi-ben. '''Kōbe-ben''' ([[:ja:神戸弁|神戸弁]]) spoken in [[Kobe]], the largest city of Hyogo, is the intermediate dialect between Banshū-ben and Osaka-ben and is well known for conjugating ''-yō'' and ''-tō'' as well as Banshū-ben.

'''[[Awaji dialect|Awaji-ben]]''' ([[:ja:淡路弁|淡路弁]]) spoken in [[Awaji Island]], is different from Banshū/Kōbe-ben and mixed with dialects of Osaka, Wakayama and [[Tokushima Prefecture]]s due to the intersecting location of sea routes in the [[Seto Inland Sea]] and the [[Tokushima Domain]] rule in Edo period.

=== Mie ===
The dialect in [[Mie Prefecture]], sometimes called '''Mie-ben''' ([[:ja:三重弁|三重弁]]), is made up of '''[[Ise Province|Ise]]-ben''' ([[:ja:伊勢弁|伊勢弁]]) spoken in mid-northern Mie, '''[[Shima Province|Shima]]-ben''' ([[:ja:志摩弁|志摩弁]]) spoken in southeastern Mie and '''[[Iga Province|Iga]]-ben''' ([[:ja:伊賀弁|伊賀弁]]) spoken in western Mie. Ise-ben is famous for a sentence final particle ''ni'' as well as ''de''. Shima-ben is close to Ise-ben, but its vocabulary includes many archaic words. Iga-ben has a unique request expression ''-te daako'' instead of standard ''-te kudasai''.

They use the normal Kansai accent and basic grammar, but some of the vocabulary is common to the [[Nagoya dialect]]. For example, instead of -''te haru'' (respectful suffix), they have the Nagoya-style -''te mieru''. Conjunctive particles ''de'' and ''monde'' "because" is widely used instead of ''sakai'' and ''yotte''. The similarity to Nagoya-ben becomes more pronounced in the northernmost parts of the prefecture; the dialect of [[Nagashima, Mie|Nagashima]] and [[Kisosaki, Mie|Kisosaki]], for instance, could be considered far closer to Nagoya-ben than to Ise-ben.

In and around [[Ise, Mie|Ise city]], some variations on typical Kansai vocabulary can be found, mostly used by older residents. For instance, the typical expression ''ōkini'' is sometimes pronounced ''ōkina'' in Ise. Near the [[Isuzu River]] and [[Ise Grand Shrine|Naikū shrine]], some old men use the first-person pronoun ''otai''.

=== Wakayama ===
'''[[Kishū dialect|Kishū-ben]]''' ([[:ja:紀州弁|紀州弁]]) or '''Wakayama-ben''' (和歌山弁), the dialect in old province [[Kii Province]], present-day [[Wakayama Prefecture]] and southern parts of Mie Prefecture, is fairly different from common Kansai dialect and comprises many regional variants. It is famous for heavy confusion of ''z'' and ''d'', especially on the southern coast. The ichidan verb negative form ''-n'' often changes ''-ran'' in Wakayama such as ''taberan'' instead of ''taben'' ("not eat"); ''-hen'' also changes ''-yan'' in Wakayama, Mie and Nara such as ''tabeyan'' instead of ''tabehen''. Wakayama-ben has specific perticles. ''Yō'' is often used as sentence final particle. ''Ra'' follows the volitional conjugation of verbs as ''iko ra yō!'' ("Let's go!"). ''Noshi'' is used as soft sentence final particle. ''Yashite'' is used as tag question. Local words are ''akana'' instead of ''akan'', ''omoshai'' instead of ''omoroi'', ''aga'' "oneself", ''teki'' "you", ''tsuremote'' "together" and so on. Wakayama people hardly ever use keigo, which is rather unusual for dialects in Kansai.

=== Shiga ===
[[Shiga Prefecture]] is the eastern neighbor of Kyoto, so its dialect, sometimes called '''Shiga-ben''' (滋賀弁) or '''Ōmi-ben''' ([[:ja:近江弁|近江弁]]) or '''Gōshū-ben''' (江州弁), is similar in many ways to Kyoto-ben. For example, Shiga people also frequently use ''-haru'', though some people tend to pronounce ''-aru'' and ''-te yaaru'' instead of ''-haru'' and ''-te yaharu''. Some elderly Shiga people also use ''-raru'' as a casual honorific form. The demonstrative pronoun ''so-'' often changes to ''ho-''; for example, ''so ya'' becomes ''ho ya'' and ''sore'' (that) becomes ''hore''. In [[Nagahama, Shiga|Nagahama]], people use the friendly-sounding auxiliary verb ''-ansu'' and ''-te yansu''. Nagahama and [[Hikone, Shiga|Hikone]] dialects has a unique final particle ''hon'' as well as ''de''.

=== Nara ===
The dialect in [[Nara Prefecture]] is divided into northern including [[Nara, Nara|Nara city]] and southern including [[Totsukawa, Nara|Totsukawa]]. The northern dialect, sometimes called '''Nara-ben''' ([[:ja:奈良弁|奈良弁]]) or '''Yamato-ben''' (大和弁), has a few particularities such as an interjectory particle ''mii'' as well as ''naa'', but the similarity with Osaka-ben increases year by year because of the economic dependency to Osaka. On the other hand, southern Nara prefecture is a [[language island]] because of its geographic isolation with mountains. [[Okuyoshino dialect|The southern dialect]] uses Tokyo type accent, has the discrimination of grammatical aspect, and does not show a tendency to lengthen vowels at the end of monomoraic nouns.