| Matagi dialect | |
|---|---|
| マタギ | |
| Native to | Japan |
| Region | Akita,Aomori |
Native speakers | 0 (2021)[1] |
Japonic
| |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | – |
TheMatagi dialect (マタギ言葉,Matagi kotoba) is a functionally extinct[1]Japanesesociolect spoken by theMatagi people ofAkita Prefecture and other areas of theTohoku region in northernHonshu, Japan. The Matagi dialect is sometimes calledYama-kotoba (山言葉;lit. 'mountain words').
Matagi contains various unique words relating to hunting, tools, and rituals, many of which are ofAinu origin.[1][2]
A dictionary of Matagi was published by Yoshizo Itabashi (板橋義三) in 2008.[3]
Below are some examples of unique Matagi words. Words such aswakka 'water',seta 'dog', andsanpe 'heart' are ofAinu origin.[4]
| English gloss | Japanese gloss | Matagi (hiragana) | Matagi (romanized) |
|---|---|---|---|
| water; liquor | 水・酒 | わっか | wakka |
| gun; rifle | 鉄砲・銃 | するべ | surube |
| bear | 熊 | いたず | itazu |
| bear | 熊 | なびれ | nabire |
| dog | 犬 | せた | seta |
| dog | 犬 | へだ | heda |
| wolf | 狼 | おきゃく | okyaku |
| Japanese macaque | 猿 | すね | sune |
| Japanese serow | カモシカ | あおけら | aokera |
| Japanese serow | カモシカ | こしまけ | koshimake |
| cattle | 牛 | つのから | tsunokara |
| rice (uncooked) | 米 | くさのみ | kusanomi |
| Buddhist temple | 寺 | くし | kushi |
| heart | 心臓 | さんぺ | sanpe |
| non-Matagi person | マタギでない人 | せたぎ | setagi |
Yoshizo Itabashi (板橋義三) (2019) notes that many Ainu words in Matagi have undergonesemantic shifts:[5]
| Matagi | Meaning in Matagi | Ainu | Meaning in Ainu |
|---|---|---|---|
| kado | weather (天候) | kanto | heaven, sky (天、空) |
| magiri | small knife, spear (小刀、槍) | makiri | small knife (小刀) |
| bakke | bear head (熊の頭) | pake | human or animal head (人の頭、動物の頭) |
| hira | net for catching bears (ケン網という熊を捕まえる網) | pira | cliff (崖) |
| hono | medium-sizedserow (中型のカモシカ) | pono | small (小さい) |
| horo | a lot (たくさん) | poro | big (大きい) |
| sa(m)be | heart, gall of bear orserow (熊やカモシカの心臓、胆) | sampe | heart (心臓) |
| heda, seda, seta | dog (犬) | seta | dog (犬) |
| wa(n)ba, washi | avalanche (雪崩) | upas | snow (雪) |
| wakka | water (水), liquor (酒) (as part of compounds) | wakka | water (水) |