Comments on: Can speaking dialect make you ugly?

By: Ingrid Piller

Ingrid Piller — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 20:03:00 +0000

In reply to Hana. Thanks, Hana! Amazing example of linguistic commodification!

By: Hana

Hana — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 11:49:49 +0000

After reading this article, I looked for an interesting story that changed the ugly image of dialect. In Korea, dialects are also attractively treated in the media, while some people regard them as a mockery by region. In particular, it had a strong image as an area where people in Jeolla-do (the name of Southern part) are ignorant and use strong language, perhaps because of TV or movies. To this end, a stationery brand called “Yeok-Sa-Seo-So (meaning: Let’s buy it here!)” was created to show that there are many soft and interesting words. This brand is a stationery brand developed using interesting dialects across the country. There are many products that can represent the region, but we started it because we wanted to create a brand with the Korean language that is only used in Jeolla-do, the CEO said. It turned the ugly image of the dialect into chic and trendy, so I enjoyed reading it in connection with this article.

By: Ingrid Piller

Ingrid Piller — Sat, 29 Oct 2022 22:27:20 +0000

In reply to Shiyi.ke. Thanks, Shiyi! You are right, dialect speakers are often in a double bind: they are considered stupid if they speak dialect, and pretentious if they don't ...

By: Shiyi.ke

Shiyi.ke — Sat, 29 Oct 2022 08:35:01 +0000

I read this mentioned short novel“yesterday” after reading this article, even though the dialects are not the mainstream in the novel, however it mentions the role of dialect in self- identification. The male protagonist is a native of Tokyo but speaks guanxi dialect all the time, the fundamental reason is that he is deeply immersed in self-identification doubts.The depression of failing the college entrance examination for three consecutive years made him gradually accustomed to escaping reality. And changing the accent is a way of escape for him to change his origin.

For me, I am from Grangxi province which is famous for strong funny accent. I found that my fellow would not dare to speak that way and change their accents pretentiouly ，cuz they are afraid of others making fun of them.

By: Laura S-K

Laura S-K — Wed, 23 Oct 2019 01:49:42 +0000

Thanks so much for this fascinating discussion about and peek into Murakami’s story. It really seems that one reason for his language practice seeming ugly is because of its subversiveness or deviance from social expectations.

I am also reminded about Ingrid’s work about hearing faces and seeing accents (was that it?) and how while on the one hand someone from a regional area would be expected to work towards using the standard dialect, Kitaru simply doesn’t have the right look to use a less-valued dialect.

While reading this, I also wondered about the translation work for this story, and how the original portrayed dialect use (and how this was transferred into the English translation).