Read ‘em：「しわしわいきなよ」　阿波弁学ぶ動画、外国人向けに作成

Tokushima Prefectural International Exchange Association (TOPIA) has created and released videos to teach the Tokushima dialect (Awa dialect) and daily conversation in an effort to help foreigners living in this western Japan prefecture learn Japanese.

TOPIA hopes that the videos will be of use to foreigners who cannot attend Japanese language classes due to work or lack of transportation, and hopes that the videos will help them in their daily lives.

A total of 15 videos have been prepared, including those featuring the Awa dialect and Awa Ningyo Joruri puppets. They are voiced mainly by the broadcasting clubs of high schools in the prefecture, and have been available since March.

According to TOPIA, there are many people who speak the Awa dialect in Tokushima, and there have been inquiries from foreigners who have learned standard Japanese saying that they cannot understand the dialect. TOPIA has been introducing the dialect in paper-based Japanese language materials, but has created videos to help people learn the intonation and other aspects.

They say that they chose the dialect, which is often heard in daily life, to introdu
ce phrases such as “Sekoina (It’s painful, isn’t it?)” and “Shiwashiwa-ikinayo (Take your time, please),” along with standard Japanese and illustrations.

The videos that feature Awa Ningyo Joruri puppets were created to help people learn Japanese while experiencing the traditional culture of Tokushima. Assuming conversations between superiors and subordinates or between friends, it introduces phrases in accordance with situations such as year-end and New Year greetings. There are also videos introducing Tokushima’s folktales and culture, and TOPIA hopes that Japanese people will also watch them if they are interested.

In fiscal 2021, they are creating videos that will allow foreigners to learn both the Awa dialect and onomatopoeia at the same time.

The videos can be viewed on the TOPIA website at https://www.topia.ne.jp/english/ (click on “Japanese Class” in the attention box on the left) or on YouTube.

　徳島で暮らす外国人の日本語学習に役立ててもらおうと、徳島市寺島本町西1の「徳島県国際交流協会」が、徳島の方言（阿波弁）や日常会話を学ぶ動画を作成し、公開した。仕事や交通の便が悪いことを理由に、日本語教室に通えない外国人に活用してもらいたい考えで、協会は「日常生活の一助になれば」と期待を込める。

　動画は阿波弁のほか、阿波人形浄瑠璃の人形を使った作品など15本を用意した。主に県内高校の放送部が声を担当し、2020年度末から公開している。

　協会によると、徳島では阿波弁を話す人が多く、標準語を学んだ外国人から言葉を理解できないといった相談が寄せられていた。これまで紙媒体の日本語教材で阿波弁を紹介してきたが、イントネーションなども覚えてもらおうと動画を作成した。

　日常でよく耳にする阿波弁を選んだといい、「せこいな（苦しいですね）」や「しわしわいきなよ（ゆっくりしてくださいね）」などのフレーズを、標準語やイラストと合わせて紹介している。