Another usage of こと?

[nhk9]

Hi, I found the following passage in today's TBS news. I was puzzled at how the word koto is used here. This is the first time I have seen the word used this way... I wonder what function does the word have in this situation. Tasukete!

ブッシュ政権の主要閣僚と次々に会談し、国連の常任理事国入りや日中関係など、幅広い問題で理解や協力を取付けた安倍氏ですが、こと北朝鮮問題に限っては、事態の深刻さだけが際立つ結果となりました

 

[epigene]

nhk9-san,

You're asking a very difficult question. This usage of koto comes naturally for native speakers, but I don't know how many can explain it...

I sought advice of my Japanese language mentor (my spouse) and found him going through his dictionaries and books to find an explanation (very rare occurrence in my household, since he comes up with answers to my questions most of the time ).

So, I'll just give you what I know (which you probably have figured out by now).

It's just one of the many usages of "koto", which in this case is used as equivalent to 特に
こと北朝鮮問題に限っては、事態の深刻さだけが際立つ結果となりました。
特に北朝鮮問題に関して言えば、事態の・・

Hope it helps you in some way.

 

[nhk9]

了解しました｜わざわざ辞書などにまで調べてくれて本間にありがとうございます

 

[epigene]

了解しました｜わざわざ辞書などにまで調べてくれて本間にありがとうございます

どういたしまして・・・

でも、関西弁の「ほんま（本当）」って「本間」と書きます？普段、カタカナで「ホンマ」と書かれているのしか見たことないですけど・・・

関西の方に、回答お願いいたします！

 

[nhk9]

どういたしまして・・・

でも、関西弁の「ほんま（本当）」って「本間」と書きます？普段、カタカナで「ホンマ」と書かれているのしか見たことないですけど・・・

関西の方に、回答お願いいたします

Hi epigene-san,

I found this site... hopefully this should help solve some of our questions. (It's at number 25)

 

[Elizabeth]

Kansai-ben as a whole I'm not sure of...but just in Osaka for instance, does anyone these days besides comedians, the yakuza, or friends in a close, casual conversation actually use the dialect for their daily affairs ? \

Sorry for my ignorance on this....what little I've heard of kansai-ben has a rather loud, rough sound, besides not being widely used (?) so I've never been so keen on trying to pick it up....:sorry:

 

[pipokun]

Right
Seems to me that they show their nationalistic characters when it comes to their dialect.
Interesting to say that even in the Kansai...
Kyoto people are proud of their historical backgrands
Nara people older capital than Kyoto
Kobe people exotic streets
Osaka people believe Osaka is the hometown of Kansai culture

disclaimer: this is just my stereotype on kanasai culture.

 

[nhk9]

Kansai-ben as a whole I'm not sure of...but just in Osaka for instance, does anyone these days besides comedians, the yakuza, or friends in a close, casual conversation actually use the dialect for their daily affairs ? \

Sorry for my ignorance on this....what little I've heard of kansai-ben has a rather loud, rough sound, besides not being widely used (?) so I've never been so keen on trying to pick it up....:sorry:

If you ever have a chance to go to Kansai region, you will probably notice that virtually everyone there speaks some sort of Kansai dialect (although there are minor differences between say, osaka ben and kyoto ben etc.). They are proud of their dialect, and I think you will find it easier to communicate with them if you know some kansai ben. I am not good at it, but am still learning. Apparently most Japanese understand their dialect, even if they can't speak it themselves.

It would be nice to hear any comment on this from someone who resides in the region