#867 On Anticausative: The 'Saru/Rasaru' of Hokkaido Dialect from Radiotalk

Clearing up the differences with Causative and Applicative.

First, we review the basics of "Causative" and the previous topic, "Applicative." By organizing who did what in a sentence and how the subjects and objects shift, we can see how language shapes meaning. The "Anticausative" we discuss this time plays a highly intriguing role within this system of voice.

The intriguing 'Saru/Rasaru' expressions of Hokkaido dialect.

We introduce specific examples of the "Saru/Rasaru" expressions found in Hokkaido dialect. When you hear how these are used differently from standard Japanese, for example when pressing a button, the distinction becomes clear. By removing the subject from the sentence, this dialect hides a convenient mechanism that allows speakers to avoid specifying who performed the action.

Taking a look at dialectal structures from a linguistic perspective deepens our understanding of language. Our host shares some fascinating insights into the specific properties of these dialects, so please be sure to listen to the full episode.