方言のよさ

Recently, it is said that the number of people who use dialects is decreasing, mainly among the younger generation. The main reason is probably that, under the influence of television and the internet, standard Japanese can now be understood anywhere in the country. Standard Japanese is certainly convenient. You can talk without misunderstanding even with someone you meet for the first time. As a result, young people have fewer chances to come into contact with dialect than before. However, dialects have qualities that standard Japanese does not. For example, even the same "thank you" has different ways of saying it depending on the region, and each has a warm sound. Dialects can also sometimes express delicate feelings that are hard to put into standard Japanese. Many people say that when they speak in dialect, they feel closer to the other person. Dialects are also words that convey the history and culture of the place. In one prefecture, an elementary school began lessons in learning the local dialect. At first the children said it was "embarrassing", but as they listened to old expressions from their grandparents, they came to take pride in their own town. Some children have even started guiding tourists around the town in dialect, inspired by the lessons. Being able to speak standard Japanese and valuing dialect are not things you have to choose between. Being able to use each according to the situation may lead to a richer command of language.