noun
local dialect; vernacular; provincialism
Refers to the dialect or vernacular of a particular region, often contrasted with standard Japanese. See also お国言葉.
See also: お国言葉
祖母はいつも国言葉で話す。
My grandmother always speaks in the local dialect.
この地域の国言葉に
The local dialect of this area has many unique expressions.
noun
Rarely used; typically refers to the standard language of a nation. In modern contexts, 国語 is more common.
明治時代には、国言葉としての日本語の整備が進められた。
During the Meiji era, Japanese was developed as the national language.
Polite form of 国言葉, used in the same sense of 'local dialect' but with honorific prefix お.
Standard term for 'dialect'; more common and neutral than 国言葉, which can carry a slightly nostalgic or traditional nuance.
Standard modern term for 'national language', especially in educational contexts. 国言葉 in this sense is archaic.
Compound of 国 (kuni, 'country, region') and 言葉 (kotoba, 'word, language'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the word has been used since at least the Edo period to refer to regional dialects.