Comparing regional pitch patterns

The idea

In a common Tokyo pattern, 箸が is high–low–low, while 橋が is low–high–high. Each kana here represents one mora. Osaka belongs to a different accent system, so a Tokyo pattern cannot simply be transferred to it.

Examples

• 橋はしを渡わたります。I cross the bridge.
• 箸はしを使つかいます。I use chopsticks.
• 言葉ことばのアクセントを聞ききます。I listen to the accent of the word.
• 最初さいしょのモーラの後あとで、音おとが下さがります。The pitch falls after the first mora.
• 東京とうきょうと大阪おおさかの話はなし方かたを比くらべます。I compare speech from Tokyo and Osaka.
• 助詞じょしの高たかさも手てがかりになります。The pitch of the particle also helps.

Watch out

Pitch is not loudness, and sentence intonation can change the surface contour. Regional and individual variation means no pattern represents every speaker.

Try it yourself

1. 東京式で「箸が」の最初の拍は高いですか、低いですか。

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   高い

   高い: Tokyo 箸が starts high and falls after は.

2. 東京式で「橋が」の最初の拍は高いですか、低いですか。

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   低い

   低い: Tokyo 橋が starts low; し and が are high.

3. 語の後について高さの違いを聞く手がかりになるものは何ですか。

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   助詞

   助詞: the particle reveals whether the pitch stays high after the word.

Use it today

Say はしが in both Tokyo patterns, then listen for the particle and compare a regional recording.