a. Sound (Sound-related feature)
In the Kansai dialect, vowels tend to be pronounced clearly, rather
long and strong, and consonants tend to be pronounced lightly, short
and weak, which lead to the characteristics listed below.
*BOLD TYPE indicates high pitch
*Mouse over or click on the speaker icon for sound
- One-*mora (syllable-like unit of Japanese) words tend to be
lengthened with tone.
歯 (teeth)
|
は(HA) →はぁ(HAA)
|
木 (tree)
|
き(KI) →きぃ(KII)
|
目 (eye)
|
め(ME) →めぇ(MEE)
|
戸 (door)
|
と(TO) → とぉ(TOO)
|
- Voiceless (whispered) vowels rarely occur.
聞く (listen; ask)
|
K(i)KU→きく (KIKU)
|
月 (moon)
|
TS(u)KI →つき (TSUKI)
|
しますよ
|
SH(i)MAS(u) YO →しますよ (SHIMASU YO)
|
- Consonants tend to be pronounced much more weakly, which result
in the sound change such as [so] to [ho]. [da] to [ya].
それで (sorede) →ほんで (honde)
|
そうだ (soo da) →ほや (hoya)
|
*The occurrence of the change from [so] to [ho]
depends on the region and generation.