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Activities: What is 役割語 (yakuwarigo) or “role-specific language” in Japanese?

By: Akiko Kashiwagi-Wood

Exercise 1: Who said it?

Who is talking? Read the sentence and choose who may be saying the sentence. Pay special attention to the bolded parts of the sentence!

  1. 、そいつのこと、知ってる
    Ore, soitsu no koto, shitteru ze!
    I know that person!
    Select your answer
  2. あたし、あなたのことが好きな
    Atashi, anata no koto ga suki na no.
    I like you.
    Select your answer
  3. わしはこの村でずっと生きてきたんじゃ
    Washi wa, kono mura de zutto ikite kita n ja!
    I've lived in this village my whole life!
    Select your answer
  4. オー、日本のサムライ、とってもクールね!Oh, nihon no samurai, tottemo kūru ne!Oh, Japanese samurais are so cool!
    Select your answer

Exercise 2: Masculine or feminine?

Is the following language feminine or masculine?

  1. あのね、昨日、友達と新しいカフェに行った
    Ano ne, kinō, tomodachi to atarashii kafe ni itta no.
    You know, yesterday I went to a new cafe with a friend.
    Select your answer
  2. あたし、今日はバイトなの
    Atashi, kyō wa baito na no.
    I’ve got to work today.
    Select your answer
  3. 腹、減ってるんだったら、うちでなんか食って行けば?
    Hara, hetteru n dattara, uchi de nan ka kutte ike ba?
    If you're hungry, why don't you eat something at my place then go?
    Select your answer
  4. おい、それ、やばくねえか
    Oi, sore, yabaku nee ka.
    Hey, isn't that kind of dangerous?
    Select your answer
  5. あら、それとっても可愛いわね。どこで買った
    Arα, sore tottemo kawaii wa ne. Doko de katta no?
    Oh, that’s very cute. Where did you buy it?
    Select your answer

Exercise 3: Kansai dialect

Is the following language Kansai-ben (Kansai dialect) or Standard Japanese ?

  1. そりゃ、あかんわ〜。せやから、ちゃんと計画立てなあかんのや。
    Sorya, akan wa. Seya kara, chanto keikaku tatena akan no ya.
    That won't do. That's why we need to properly plan (it).
    Select your answer
  2. すみません、これ、いくらですか?
    Sumimasen, kore, ikura desu ka?
    How much is this?
    Select your answer
  3. 生涯をかけて彼女を守り抜きます。
    Shōgai o kakete kanojo o mamorinukimasu.
    I will protect her with my life.
    Select your answer
  4. そんなん、絶対に言わへんで。
    Son’nan, zettai ni iwahende.
    I definitely won’t say that.
    Select your answer
  5. 毎度おおきに。また来てや。
    Maido ōki ni. Mata kite ya.
    Thank you. Come back again.
    Select your answer