mountain language; euphemisms used by hunters and woodsmen in the wild
Refers to a set of taboo-avoidance terms traditionally used by hunters, lumberjacks, and other mountain workers. These euphemisms replace words considered unlucky or dangerous to say aloud in the wilderness. The literal gloss 'mountain language' is a direct translation.
In mountain language, a bear is sometimes called 'oyaji' (old man).
The hunters used mountain language to talk without alerting the game.
Standard kanji spelling.
Alternate kanji spelling using 詞 for 'word'.
Mixed kana-kanji spelling; may be easier for learners.
Compound of 山 (yama, 'mountain') and 言葉 (kotoba, 'word, language'). The term describes a specialized vocabulary used in mountain settings to avoid taboo words.