Interpreting dialect stereotypes in fiction

The idea

In some Osaka speech, あかん can express prohibition or that something is no good; なおす can mean put away, and ほかす throw away. Compare the scene with standard いけません, 片付ける and 捨てる. The meaning depends on context.

Examples

• 登場人物とうじょうじんぶつは危険きけんだと言いいます。The character says it is dangerous.
• この場面ばめんでは入はいってはいけません。In this scene, you must not enter.
• 彼女かのじょは友達ともだちに本ほんを片付かたづけるように頼たのみます。She asks her friend to put the book away.
• 話はなし方かたから出身地しゅっしんちを決きめつけることはできません。You cannot determine someone’s birthplace from their speech alone.
• 作者さくしゃは言葉ことばで人物じんぶつの印象いんしょうを作つくります。The author uses language to create an impression of a character.
• 同おなじ地域ちいきでも話はなし方かたは人ひとによって違ちがいます。Even in the same region, people speak differently.

Watch out

A regional feature does not prove a character’s origin or personality. Fiction may exaggerate a familiar association; actual speakers vary by person and situation.

Try it yourself

1. In fiction, あかん can correspond to which standard expression? （いけません／ありがとう）

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   いけません

   いけません expresses prohibition in standard Japanese; ありがとう means thank you.

2. In Osaka-associated speech, which form can mean “put away”? （なおす／ほかす）

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   なおす

   なおす can mean put away in Osaka-associated speech; ほかす can mean throw away.

3. Which standard verb means “throw away”? （捨てる／直す）

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   捨てる

   捨てる means throw away; 直す usually means repair in this context.

Use it today

Compare a character’s あかん with the standard prohibition in the second example, then consider what impression the scene creates.