What's the difference?

[Skullcrushergurl]

I'm not sure if this thread is in the right place. Anywayhow, I've always wondered what the difference is in Japanese dialects. Somehow, Okinawa dialect is different from the Tokyo and Kyoto dialect is different from that!
If so, whats the BIG difference and what am I learning?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!☝

 

[nice gaijin]

You're most likely learning hyoujungo, the "standard" dialect most similar to Tokyo-ben. Some dialects are mostly identical, while others have slightly different vocabulary, or different pitch patterns or even vowel sets. The Okinawan dialect is a bit of a special case, because it is influenced by the native language of the Ryukyus which is quite different from Japanese.

 

[EvilCowSlayer]

What do you mean by "vowel sets", nice gaijin?

You could Wikipedia some of the dialects and get some nice general information on the difference between each.

Side note: Everybody can speak and understand Standard Japanese. However, even if you don't intend on speaking the dialect, you should learn it, as speaking in Standard if it's not your native dialect seems distant and formal, which is not always a good thing.

 

[nice gaijin]

Standard Japanese consists of 5 vowels. Some dialects have 4 or even 3. That's what I meant.

For someone learning Japanese in a foreign country, its easiest and most practical to learn the standard dialect. It's unnecessary to learn how to speak in a different dialect unless you intend to live in a specific area. TV shows will often have comedians or characters that speak a certain dialect, so most people at least understand those common vocabulary. Kansai-ben is all over the entertainment industry.