Differences between Standard Japanese and the Gensokyo Dialect of Japanese

In the Drillimation Danmaku Universe, the Federal Kingdom of Gensokyo is a whole another country from Japan. If you put a Japanese person and a youkai-born Gensokyo person into the same room and have them converse, they may have difficulty understanding the differences in the way they speak. I will explain the differences between the dialects in Standard Japanese and Gensokyo Japanese, and give you a closer insight into this fictional dialect.

Phrasing

As with most languages around the world, Japanese has its fair share of question tags. Gensokyo Japanese tends to endure more flak on their question tags. In the Japanese language, a statement can be turned into a question by adding the particle ne (ね) at the end of a sentence. In English, this would equate to “huh” or “right”.

Units of Measurement

Gensokyo uses the metric system, just like Japan. Unlike in North America, families in Gensokyo announce a newborn’s weight in kilograms, and car dealerships advertise their vehicles’ consumption under kilometers per liter. All speed limit signs are posted in kilometers per hour.

Vocabulary

Even though Japanese can easily understand Gensokyo Japanese, there are some vocabulary differences that could cause confusion. These are illustrated in the examples below:

• In Japanese, the word for sneakers (スニーカー sunīkā) is pronounced almost exactly like the English word. In Gensokyo Japanese, sneakers are referred to as hashikutsu (走靴), or in other words, running shoes.
• Japanese may be surprised that restrooms, called otearai (お手洗い) in Japan, are referred to as araishitsu (洗室) in Gensokyo, or in other words, washrooms.
• Japan’s currency is the yen, while in Gensokyo, the currency is ingots. In Gensokyo Japanese, the ingot is called jigane (地金).
• In religion, the term for non-believers in standard Japanese is fushinsha (不信者). In Gensokyo Japanese, it is pronounced fushinja instead, though the kanji used to write the word remains the same. Additionally, the word has a completely different meaning, and is a derogatory term for youkai-borns.

English Influence

It’s important to know that English, alongside Japanese, are both listed as official languages in Gensokyo. Eastern Gensokyo mainly uses English, while Western Gensokyo mainly uses Japanese, thanks to it being close to Japan. The spread of the English language during the Edo Period has not affected the dialect of Japanese much. Its influence is limited to personal preference.

Conclusion

Both the Standard and Gensokyo dialects of Japanese can be difficult to tell apart. Some say they are indistinguishable. If they spend time listening to these two dialects, they will be able to understand its delightful differences.