8

Note: video has expired and link has been removed.

I rarely if ever see anything like this covered in Japanese textbooks or courses besides the hashi (bridge) vs hashi (chopstick) discussion.

Is there no system for this type of intonation, whether it actually creates a literal difference in meaning as with the hashi example, or whether it simply creates a different connotation as is shown in the video? Is there no system as there is pin yin for Chinese? Is the best way to learn this simply to repeat the Japanese you here and hope you've copied the exact some pronunciation right - is there no list of these "vocalization"/"pitch variation" things, and their meanings?

Improve this question
2
  • 1
    Many Japanese dictionaries include pitch accent information, if you just want to look it up yourself for any given word. For instance, weblio.jp It's the number in brackets next to the listing.
    – Leebo
    Feb 25, 2020 at 3:49
  • Okay that's helpful but is there any list of things like what I mentioned in the video? What kind of learning source would have stuff like kaji (up) or kaji (down) and the meaning thereof explained? Like does it work for all names? What is the authority on that? etc.
    – Jack Pan
    Feb 25, 2020 at 5:29

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
12

If you're merely interested in the current "standard" accent of Japanese words, try one of these learning resources.

The jokes in this video are based on a more advanced topic of the Japanese pitch accent, namely アクセントの平板化 ("flattening"). Briefly, it refers to the change of the pronunciation of certain words from the non-flat to the flat (or "unaccented", "monotonous") type. Many common words underwent 平板化 in the past 100 years (e.g., グラス【HLL】 → グラス【LHH】).

For some words, both non-flat and flat versions are widely used today. A good example is 彼氏; both カレシ【HLL】 and カレシ【LHH】 are common, but the latter sounds younger and informal.

Occasionally a flat version gains a different nuance. For example, クラブ【HLL】 means generic "club", but クラブ【LHH】 often refers to nightclubs. ネット【HLL】 usually refers to netting and ネット【LHH】 usually refers to the Internet.

Generally speaking, when two types of pitch accent are in use, the flat version (indicated with ⤴ in your video) tends to sound younger, more slangy, jargon-like, or sometimes frivolous.

  • 解説：アクセントの平板化

    ところで，「サーファー」「モデル」「バイク」「ビデオ」といった外来語のアクセントの平板化については，「専門家アクセント」という面白い指摘があります。平板化がいち早く起こるのが，その単語を普段からよく使う人たちの間であり，ある種の単語のアクセントを平板化することが，その分野によく通じていることの目印になるというのです。

  • 「アクセントがなくなると心理的距離が近くなる？ーーアクセントの「平板化」を考える」

    お店の従業員や愛好家など、専門家集団が専門用語を発する際に、言葉が平板化することがあるということです。また多くの研究で、アクセントの平板化は首都圏在住の若年層に進行が認められています。

As for 梶さん, かじさん【HLLL】 is the orthodox pronunciation. Saying かじさん【LHHH】 is not particularly strange to my ears, but if someone does this intentionally, as in the video, it sounds like they are emphasizing its frivolous, slangy or jargon-like quality. For example, at 0:05 and 1:56, guys are saying 梶裕貴じゃね⤴ , and they are mimicking a チャラ男's way of speaking. At 2:20, Kaji himself is playing the role of formal 梶さん⤵ and frivolous 梶さん⤴.

Note that all the people in this video are professional seiyu who know how 平板化 works. Ordinary people are not consciously aware of this.

Improve this answer
1
  • Your mention of "younger, slangy, frivolous" and the rising intonation at the start of 平板 words reminds me oddly of so-called "Valleyspeak", and the associated high rising terminal intonation. In American English, at least, this kind of intonation pattern sounds similarly "younger, slangy, frivolous".
    – Eiríkr Útlendi
    Sep 20, 2021 at 23:24

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .