Dialect cosplay

要旨

The young people born in Heisei-period Japan are the first generation to have grown up in a society where language standardization has almost been completed. The first acquired language variety of the young generation, the one with which they are most familiar, is in most parts of Japan no longer some dialect, but Standard Japanese. However, young Japanese perceive Standard Japanese as colorless, bland if not outright boring. Hence, they are the main agents pushing towards language de-standardization. De-standardization does not mean a U-turn towards past patterns. Past patterns of differentiated uses (tsukaiwake) of formal and informal varieties are quickly fading away, and making room for new verbal self-stylization. This new practice requires token knowledge of dialects and of local stereotypes, but, first and foremost, new attitudes towards language and society. Fluidity, hybridity, and cool are governing the new linguistic representations of young Japanese today.

主題