Yamagata dialect

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The Yamagata dialect (山形弁, Yamagata-ben^?) is the local dialect in spoken Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. It is a form of Tōhoku-ben, and can itself be broken down into sub-regional branches that vary from area to area within Yamagata.

Yamagata-ben was used for comic effect in the Japanese film Swing Girls, 2004, to suggest that the film was set in a rural, 'backward' location. However, some Yamagata residents feel that the film used the dialect in an unnatural and patronising way. The dialect has also had Japan-wide exposure through Daniel Kahl, an American who has made a TV career as the gaijin talent who can speak fluent Yamagata-ben.

List of Yamagata-ben words (not all of which are spoken throughout the prefecture):

• oshoushina - thank you
• arigatou sama - thank you
• sasukune - you're welcome
• domosu - thank you / greeting
• oban desu - good evening
• oban kata - good evening
• n da - yes
• n ne - no
• jonda - great!
• ikube - let's go
• migi ni muzaru- turn right
• hidari ni muzaru- turn left
• shaikozunna- stop interfering/bothering me
• sawanazu!- don't touch me!
• ke- a statement made to offer one food
• ku- a statement made accepting one's offer of food