If you search Kyoto on Google, it will be displayed in the search results if there are many people searching for “Kyoto pronunciation”.It is true that the pronunciation and dialect of Kyoto are unique even in Japan, but I personally think that communication in Kyoto is more interesting, so I would like to write an essay about that today.
Japanese also has many dialects depending on the region.I’m from the Tokyo metropolitan area, so I don’t speak many dialects, but my husband and grandparents are from Kansai and speak the so-called “Kansai dialect”.For example, in the Kansai dialect, the expression “It’s nice!” is called “eeyan.”Also, the Kansai dialect says “Chaunen” to say “It’s not!”Adult Japanese can understand what the other person is saying even if they cannot speak the Kansai dialect themselves.
On the one hand, let’s talk about the Kyoto dialect.The dialect of Kyoto, the so-called Kyoto dialect, is very similar to the Kansai dialect in my opinion.Being from Tokyo, I can’t immediately tell if the person I’m talking to is from Kyoto or from Osaka just by hearing the words and pronunciation.While just talking, I will gradually understand it with the feeling of “Ah, Kyoto dialect!”I get the impression that the Kyoto dialect has a softer pronunciation than the Kansai dialect.
More difficult than the dialect is Kyoto’s method of communication.It wasn’t until I became a member of society that I learned that people in Kyoto have a special way of communicating.What can I say, Kyoto people don’t express things directly.When I worked with people in Kyoto, I was consulted by a colleague that the client’s budget often differed greatly from the budget initially heard.At that time, I thought, “Is there such a thing?”, but during this trip to Kyoto, there was an event that made me understand.
In the middle of our trip, our family was looking for a delicious western restaurant in Kyoto.I found a highly rated Western-style restaurant on Google Maps and decided to ask the waitress if my family of four could fit in.There were some empty seats in the restaurant.
When I said,
“Can 4 people enter? I have a 4-year-old and a baby.”
”Oh, I’ll see if there are any seats available.”
Saying this, the waitress went into the back and disappeared from sight.The waitress immediately returned and said,
“It seems that there are no seats available for children. I’m sorry.”
Her words were very polite, but the restaurant was small, and I wondered why she went out of her way to look at the seats, even though the staff would have known which seats were occupied.
Furthermore, I tried to ask,
“Can I enter if I wait?”
When I was about to say that, the waitress said,
“I’m sorry. There are no seats available.”
I gave up on eating there and went back to my car and told my husband about it.
“Ah, that means no children allowed in,”
said my husband.I was very surprised when I heard that, and it made me feel a little negative.However, according to my husband, it is the consideration of the people of Kyoto.It’s a culture that doesn’t refuse straight.
“Well, for example, when there is an annoying street parking on the street, people in Kyoto will say, “Wow, you’re really good at parking cars.Ordinary people get angry, saying, “Parking on the street like this is in the way!” He told me.I certainly thought that it was certainly elegant to say “This car is parked well” instead of “Damn it’s in the way”.It was a case where I somehow understood the communication of people in Kyoto.
How is it? Were you able to understand the nuances of Kyoto people’s communication?Japanese and Japanese communication are often said to be ambiguous, but Kyoto communication may be the most difficult among them.But don’t worry.The restaurant I went to is a private restaurant where locals gather.Restaurants and shops that welcome tourists are accustomed to communicating with foreigners.However, if you feel that you don’t understand the other person’s true feelings in Kyoto, there is a high possibility that they have turned you down.Please enjoy this unique culture.
