Nagoya dialect

The is a Japanese dialect spoken in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture. In a wide sense, Nagoya dialect means the dialect in the western half of the prefecture (formerly part of Owari Province), and in that case, it is also called Owari dialect (尾張弁 Owari-ben). The dialect spoken in the eastern half of the prefecture (formerly part of Mikawa Province) is differ from Nagoya dialect and called Mikawa dialect (三河弁 Mikawa-ben).

Phonology

Nagoya dialect has peculiarity diphthongs; and change ( or in some areas), changes or , and changes or . In recent years, these diphthongs are hardly used by young people. is very famous in Japan, so it is widely imitated to represent stereotypical Nagoya speakers, and often becomes a target of joke with Nagoya people about their dialect such as "Nagoya people speak as cat" (a play on words with or and "meow"). A Japanese comedian Tamori once joked about Nagoya dialect such as ebifuryaa (incorrect Nagoya form of ebifurai or "fried prawn") and made Nagoya people angry.

ex. doerai umai ("very yummy") > > ; ja nai ka? ("isn't it?") > ; omae ("you") >

Pitch accent of Nagoya dialect tends to shift the start of high pitch. For example, Nagoya-ben is pronounced as Low-High-High-High-High in Tokyo, and Low-Low-High-High-High in Nagoya. Some words have different downsteps between Nagoya and Tokyo. For examle, Nagoya is pronounced as High-Low-Low in Tokyo, and...
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