Anime and manga have undeniably left their mark on global pop culture. These forms of media are the first window many Japanese language learners have into Japanese society and culture.
One key linguistic element in anime and manga is their frequent use of 役割語[yakuwarigo], or "role-specific language." This is a style of speaking that is assigned to a character in order to signal, in just a few words, something about who they are as a person.
For example, a tough, stoic male character might use a masculine and blunt manner of speaking, by using masculine 役割語[yakuwarigo] like 俺[ore](I) and the sentence final particle ぞ[zo]:
In this post, we'll go through 役割語[yakuwarigo] associated with all different types of people, and how speech style can signal gender, age, country or city of origin, and social status. Understanding these different speech styles will help you recognize "stock characters" in media, and help you call those characters to mind in real-world conversations.
Let's dive in and uncover the linguistic secrets that help keep anime and manga vibrant!
What is 役割語 [yakuwarigo]?
役割語[yakuwarigo](role specific language) is a term used to describe a way of speaking that is used to signal something about who a character is, or the role they play in a story. In Japanese, you'll find this all over anime, manga, and other fictional stories, since it helps a reader or viewer quickly figure out what kind of person a character is.
Though 役割語[yakuwarigo] was first brought to attention in academia by Satoshi Kinsui back in 2003. However, the actual 役割語[yakuwarigo] has been around for a long time.
We see the same effect even in English. For example, if a character were to use phrases like “narrr”, “me hearties” or “Ahoy!”, you would instantaneously know that the person was a pirate. That is 役割語[yakuwarigo]: language that signals a character's role!
While 役割語[yakuwarigo] is based on real aspects of the Japanese language, it is often exaggerated or stylized for dramatic or comedic effect in media. Though some of the markers of these speech styles may be used in real-life conversation, most people will not speak like characters in anime and manga.
Learners of Japanese should be aware that mimicking this style of speech in real life might be seen as unnatural, inappropriate, or cartoonish depending on the context.
Additionally, though the intent of 役割語[yakuwarigo] is not to perpetuate negative stereotypes, it may sometimes have that effect. Scholars both in and outside Japan have critiqued it for furthering limited images of women and non-Japanese foreigners in particular.
How does language show character traits in anime and manga?
Anime and manga are not just entertainment; they are like linguistic textbooks come to life. For learners, they provide an immersive, engaging, and enjoyable experience, offering insights into both the language's intricacies, and cultural and societal norms. In this section, we'll look at how different 役割語[yakuwarigo] can signal a character's gender, age, origin, social status, or personality. Let's have a look!
Masculine and feminine language
Anime and manga characters often exhibit speech patterns that align with traditional gender norms. 男言葉[otoko kotoba](masculine language) is characterized by its assertiveness and is often devoid of the softness or politeness that might be found in its feminine counterpart. On the other hand, 女言葉[on’na kotoba](feminine language) is typically gentler.
Masculine and feminine language can be expressed at different levels, from a particle, a verb form to a word or a sentence level. Let’s take a look at a couple of examples! A possible context in which the line could be used is provided.
Masculine language: 男言葉 [otoko kotoba]
男言葉[otoko kotoba] can be identified with terms like 俺[ore] for "I" or sentence final particles such as ぜ[ze] and ぞ[zo]. Let's look at some examples!
Possible context: A group of friends is discussing local rumors. When a tale about a ghost who appears under a bridge at midnight is mentioned, one friend, known for his knowledge of local gossip, expresses surprise and skepticism, having never heard this particular story.
masculine word choicesentence final particle
俺はそんな話、聞いたことないぜ。
Ore wa son’na hanashi, kīta koto nai ze.
I've never heard that kind of story, you know.
The sentence final particle ぜ[ze] is a colloquial and masculine sentence final particle of emphasis. It adds assertiveness, and sometimes adds an aggressive or rough tone to the statement. In anime and manga, it is often used by male speakers to assert their opinion, to emphasize determination, or to forcefully encourage someone to agree with them. This particle can convey a sense of masculinity, confidence, informality, and casualness.
When using ぜ[ze] in real life, do so with caution. Among friends or in the right context, it can be seen as friendly banter or a spirited addition to conversation. However, if used out of context or with the wrong audience, it could be seen as offensive or too forward.
Possible context: During a sports game, the team captain motivates the team with a pep talk, reminding them of their preparation and urging them to put in their best effort.
sentence final particle
→ The particle ぜ is used in everyday conversation in real life by men, and although less frequently, by women, too.
Possible context: In a busy dinner service, the head chef, needing a specific ingredient or tool quickly to finish a dish, calls out to a nearby kitchen assistant.
masculine word choiceimperative verb form
おい、それ今すぐ、持ってこい。
Oi, sore ima sugu motte koi.
Hey, bring that over here now.
The word おい[oi](hey) is a masculine attention catcher, and こい[koi] is the imperative form of 来る[kuru](to come). Both in fiction, and in real life, the word おい[oi] and the imperative verb form are more commonly used by men. These forms also tend to be used by men who are higher in social status or older, particularly when speaking to someone junior or younger, like a father addressing his child.
Possible context: After a hard day's work, you and your colleague, who is also a close friend and of the same age, leave the office together. You suggest going out to eat.
masculine word choicesentence final particle
腹、減った。飯食いに行こうぜ。
Hara, hetta. Meshi kui ni ikō ze.
I’m hungry. Let’s go grab some food.
Here, the use of 腹[hara](stomach) instead of a more polite term, お腹[onaka], gives it a blunt and masculine tone. Similarly, using the word 飯[meshi](meal), instead of ご飯[gohan], gives a masculine tone.
Though these words and phrases still sound "masculine," in modern society, it's becoming more acceptable for women to use more masculine language. The women who use these expressions tend to be younger, and are often trying to sound more masculine or authoritative.
Feminine language: 女言葉 [on’na kotoba]
Feminine speech is traditionally viewed as polite, gentle, and deferential, characterized by specific sentence endings, pronouns, and vocabulary. Although societal and cultural expectations are changing over time, certain elements of this style, such as its emphasis on a softer tone and less direct speech, are still generally expected of women in Japan.
In anime and manga, feminine language is often exaggerated even further, to distinguish characters from each other and emphasize their femininity.
Like masculine language, feminine language can appear at different levels, from a particle to a sentence. Below, we'll see feminine sentence endings, わ[wa], かしら[kashira], のよ[no yo], and なの[na no], along with the first-person pronoun あたし[atashi](I). Let's take a look!
Possible context: As a mother prepares to leave the house and puts on her shoes, she notices her daughter's water bottle on the shoe shelf and, feeling a mix of concern and annoyance, speaks to herself.
sentence final particle
嫌だわ、あの子、これ忘れちゃってるけど、大丈夫かしら？
Iya da wa, ano ko, kore wasurechatteru kedo, daijōbu kashira?
Oh no, that child has forgotten this, I wonder if it's alright?
While there are various types of the sentence final particle わ[wa], here it has feminine flavor. Though, in real life, the frequency of the feminine sentence-final particles わ[wa] and かしら[kashira] is decreasing, they are still used in fiction and are sometimes used by women from older generations.
Possible context: During a discussion about vacation plans, a group of girls agrees on a seaside destination, eager for swimming, but one girl isn't as enthusiastic about it.
feminine word choicesentence final particle
あたしね、実は泳げないのよ。
Atashi ne, jitsu wa oyoge nai no yo.
You know, I actually can’t swim.
Unlike the gender-neutral わたし[watashi](I), the more feminine あたし[atashi] is less common in real life. When it is used, it's typically reserved for informal settings with close friends or family. It's not used in writing, except in dialogue.
Possible context: A girl has a new necklace and asks her friend to comment on it.
sentence final particle
これ、新しいネックレスなの。どう？
Kore, atarashii nekkuresu na no. Dō?
This is my new necklace. What do you think?
Elderly person’s language: 老人語 [rōjingo]
In anime and manga, elderly characters often speak in a style of speech known as 老人語[rōjingo](elderly person’s language). This style of speech is characterized by an old-fashioned tone that is reminiscent of historical Japan. Often, characters using this speech style will also speak in a heavy dialect, but we'll talk about that further down.
Some examples of non-dialectal 老人語[rōjingo] include the first-person pronoun わし[washi](I), sentence-ending particles like じゃ[ja] or のう[nō], and negations such as ぬ/ん[nu/n].
Anime and manga creators frequently use 老人語[rōjingo] in the dialogue of elderly characters to make them them sound wise or old-fashioned. But while this speech style is it is commonly given to fictional characters, non-dialect 老人語[rōjingo] is almost never used in real, modern Japanese.
When the narrator or a character in a story talks about an elderly character, their actions are often described using honorific language. This further marks the elderly character as experienced or respectied.
Let's look at some examples!
Possible context: At a family gathering, upon seeing a grandchild after a long time, an elderly man might express surprise at how much they've grown or changed.
sentence final particle
孫の成長にはほんとうに驚くばかりじゃよ。
Mago no seichō ni wa hontō ni odoroku bakari ja yo.
I'm truly amazed at how much my grandchild has grown.
〜じゃよ[ja yo] would be replaced with 〜ですよ[desu yo] or 〜だよ[da yo] in standard Japanese.
Possible context: An elderly lady reminisces about the hardships of her youth, possibly during war or post-war times, and seeks to share these experiences with the younger generation.
sentence final particle
あの時代は、今とは比べものにならんくらい大変だったのう。
Ano jidai wa, ima to wa kurabemono ni narankurai taihen datta nō.
That era was incredibly challenging, incomparable to today.
〜のう[nō] would probably be replaced with 〜ですね[desu ne] or だね[da ne] in standard Japanese.
Possible context: An elderly man who has been running a family business for decades addresses his grown-up grandson, who has recently graduated and joined the family business. He proposes a radical new approach or a risky investment that goes against the traditional way the business has been run.
elderly word choicenegationsentence final particle
わしの言うことが聞けぬというんじゃな。もう勝手にせい。
Washi no iu koto ga kikenu to iu n ja na. Mō katte ni sei.
You're saying you won't listen to what I have to say? Do as you please then.
👉 Note that when in audio/visual media, the elderly may also speak more slowly, enunciating each word clearly and deliberately.
わし[washi] can be replaced with わたし[watashi](I). ぬ[nu] is a negative form that could be replaced with ない[nai], and せい[sei] can be replaced with なさい[nasai] or the imperative form of “to do”, しろ[shiro], in standard Japanese.
Chinese/foreigner language: アルヨ言葉 [aruyo kotoba]
The multicultural world of anime doesn't shy away from introducing characters of different nationalities. This means, occasionally, you'll find characters speaking with an accent or using a non-standard type of Japanese specifically selected to indicate that someone is foreign. This type of speech is known asアルヨ言葉[aruyo kotoba].
アルヨ言葉[aruyo kotoba] is a term derived from the sentence ending アルヨ[aru yo], which is used to give the character's speech a "Chinese" flair.
"chinese flair"
あの店、値段が安いアルヨ。
Ano mise, nedan ga yasui aru yo.
As for that store, the price is cheap.
それ嘘アル。ほんとのこと話すヨロシ。
Sore uso aru. Honto no koto hanasu yoroshi.
That's a lie. Tell the truth.
→ particle omissions
These days, though, the term is used within manga and anime to refer to any foreign speech style. For example, this is how you might depict English-influenced Japanese.
オー、わたしそれ、わかりませ〜ん。
Ō, watashi sore, wakarimase-n..
Oh, I don’t understand that.
→ over-exaggerating with English sounds
ヘイ、君たち！レッツゴー！ユーたちと一緒ならハッピーさ。
Hei, kimi tachi! Rettsu go! Yū tachi to issho nara happī sa.
Hey, you guys! Let's go! With you guys, I’m happy.
→ mixing English
👉 Note that when in audio/visual media, foreigner characters may speak with different accents and pronunciations, etc. as well as overly exaggerated manner.
Note that these アルヨ言葉[aruyo kotoba] differ from actual language use and cultural expressions that many foreign individuals use in real life. アルヨ言葉 are frequently portrayed in an exaggerated manner as character representations. It's important to note that modern society is generally more sensitive to such depictions. Please understand that you should also approach this with cultural sensitivity.
The way "Chinese-style" speech is depicted in Japanese fiction is said to be influenced by 協和語[kyōwago], sometimes called "Harmony Language" or "Concord Language." This was a language that was intentionally created and used during the Japanese colonization in Manchuria in the 1930s and 40s, as part of an effort to promote cultural assimilation.
This 協和語[kyōwago] was a "hybrid" language that blended Japanese with various local languages (not just Chinese!). This means that when modern writers use アルヨ言葉[aruyo kotoba] to depict "Chinese-style" speech, the depiction isn't always representative of how someone who actually has a Chinese accent would speak!
Dialects: 方言 [Hōgen]
Dialects in manga and anime serve several important purposes in the narrative. For example, dialects can indicate a character's regional background, which can imply something about their likely social status or even their personality traits.
Just like everywhere different regions of Japan are associated with different stereotypes, which writers use to set expectations about a character. In English, a mobster might be given a New York accent. In Japanese, someone who is comedic, straightforward, or down-to-earth could be given a Kansai dialect.
The portrayal of dialects in anime and manga can sometimes be dramatized or blended, resulting in representations that may not always resonate with natives as truly authentic. These creative interpretations can mix elements from different dialects, which, while entertaining, may not accurately reflect the genuine speech patterns of those regions.
There is also a growing awareness that these portrayals are based on stereotypes and do not necessarily reflect the reality of what people from each of these regions are like.
There are over 16 recognized dialects in Japan and even more local variations. The Tokyo dialect, or 東京方言[Tōkyō hōgen], is typically considered standard Japanese (標準語[hyōjungo]), and is considered something of a neutral dialect in anime and manga.
The second most popular dialect is the distinct and characterful 関西弁[kansai-ben], or Kansai dialect. Let's look a bit more closely at some of the features of this dialect!
Kansai-ben
The Kansai region, in the southern-central part of Japan's main island, Honshū. "Kansai dialect" is a blanket term, as the Kansai area itself encompasses several prefectures, each with its own unique linguistic quirks.
Historically, characters who speak Kansai dialect have been portrayed as money-conscious. While they might be penny-pinchers, they might also demonstrate considerable business savvy.
This stereotype was closely associated with Osaka dialect, likely because of Osaka's historical status as an economic hub and a crucial center for commerce, once known as the "Kitchen of Japan", during the Edo Period.
In modern anime and manga, characters who speak 関西弁[kansai-ben] are more often depicted as flashy, loud, meddlesome, and overly familiar.
関西弁[kansai-ben] is commonly described as a more casual sounding dialect. It's different from the Tokyo (standard) dialect both in its pronunciation, and its word choice.
Pronunciation-wise, Kansai dialect is different in, pitch, tone, and stress of words. For example, vowels tend to be pronounced clearly, rather long and strong.
The chart below illustrates some differences in word choice between Tokyo Japanese and Kansai Japanese:
There are many sentence endings used in 関西弁[kansai-ban] which are different from standard Japanese. Some examples include:
In a spoken statement, だ[da] becomes や[ya]
You may also hear やわ[yawa], やな[yana], or やろ[yaro] instead of や
The sentence-final particle ね[ne] becomes な[na]
The pitch accent of someone's voice through a sentence is also different in Kansai-ben. Instead of [aTSUi na] as in standard Japanese, it becomes [Atsui na]. (Upper case letter means HIGH in pitch accent)
When you negate something, じゃない[janai] becomes やない[yanai] or ちゃう[chau]
It’s not a joke.
Are you kidding me.
Negating a verb is also different, as ない[nai] becomes verb + ん[n] or verb + へん[hen]
Expressing probability or inferring something, だろう[darō] becomes やろ[yaro]
Polite language: 敬語 [Keigo]
Last but certainly not least, the world of anime and manga offers a masterclass in 敬語[keigo](polite language). Respectful speech in Japanese—ranging from the humble to the honorific—is portrayed in anime and manga. Whether it's a servant speaking to their master or a young person addressing an elder, the shifts in tone, vocabulary, and structure in polite language are crucial for anyone serious about mastering Japanese.
敬語 is not just about being polite; it's about recognizing and acknowledging the social standing, age, and relationship of the person one is speaking to. For instance, one might use the most formal level of 敬語, called 尊敬語[sonkeigo](respectful expressions), when addressing someone of higher status, like a company boss or an elder. On the other hand, with friends or those of equal or lower status, one might use タメ口[tameguchi](casual/plain speech).
You may not think about it, but suffixes added to names are a part of the polite language. Common honorifics include 〜さん[-san], 〜ちゃん[-chan], 〜さま[-sama], and 〜くん[-kun]. To find out more about how to address people, please check out our post!
To sum up
In this post, we discussed that manga and anime offer an immersive, engaging, and enjoyable way to understand the intricacies of the language. Specifically, we talked about the functions and roles of 役割語[yakuwarigo], specific language and vocabulary used such as masculine and feminine speech elderly person’s language, Chinese/Foreigner language and briefly touched upon dialects, and polite language.
By noting these nuances, you can enrich your vocabulary and grasp Japan's cultural and societal aspects. Just remember that some of 役割語[yakuwarigo] in anime and manga may not be used in the real life, or only used in a specific context. It is crucial to understand the implications and nuances of each 役割語[yakuwarigo], so listen closely in real life conversations to identify which ones are actually used. Embrace this linguistic adventure with an open mind for a deeper appreciation of Japanese language and culture.
To check your understanding, don’t forget to try our exercises! Happy learning!
