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!
- 俺、そいつのこと、知ってるぜ!
Ore, soitsu no koto, shitteru ze!
I know that person! - あたし、あなたのことが好きなの。
Atashi, anata no koto ga suki na no.
I like you. - 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! - 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!
Exercise 2: Masculine or feminine?
Is the following language feminine or masculine?
- あのね、昨日、友達と新しいカフェに行ったの。
Ano ne, kinō, tomodachi to atarashii kafe ni itta no.
You know, yesterday I went to a new cafe with a friend. - あたし、今日はバイトなの。
Atashi, kyō wa baito na no.
I’ve got to work today. - 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? - おい、それ、やばくねえか。
Oi, sore, yabaku nee ka.
Hey, isn't that kind of dangerous? - あら、それとっても可愛いわね。どこで買ったの?
Arα, sore tottemo kawaii wa ne. Doko de katta no?
Oh, that’s very cute. Where did you buy it?
Exercise 3: Kansai dialect
Is the following language Kansai-ben (Kansai dialect) or Standard Japanese ?
- 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). - すみません、これ、いくらですか?
Sumimasen, kore, ikura desu ka?
How much is this? - 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. - そんなん、絶対に言わへんで。
Son’nan, zettai ni iwahende.
I definitely won’t say that. - 毎度おおきに。また来てや。
Maido ōki ni. Mata kite ya.
Thank you. Come back again.
Activity progress
Grade0/0 correct
:quality(75))