Did you know: Okinawan language is Hogan?

Posted Sat, 03/28/2009 - 20:02 Posted by okinawa

 Okinawan traditional language is "Hogan" not "Japanese". In fact, most of Okinawan culture is a fusion of Japanese and China culture as Okinawa was a hub in this region for trade long ago. 

In Hogan, traditional Okinawan dialect, "Haisai" means: Hello

So, if you're in the neighborhood... surprise your local Okinawan and greet them with: HAISAI ....you both might get a kick out of it. (*-*)

John in Japan

Okinawa Japan Photographer, Documenting the beauty of Okinawa

 

‹ Okinawa accent

[quote=okinawa]  Okinawan

by Masabo - 07/24/2010 - 05:07

[quote=okinawa]

 Okinawan traditional language is "Hogan" not "Japanese". In fact, most of Okinawan culture is a fusion of Japanese and China culture as Okinawa was a hub in this region for trade long ago. 

In Hogan, traditional Okinawan dialect, "Haisai" means: Hello

So, if you're in the neighborhood... surprise your local Okinawan and greet them with: HAISAI ....you both might get a kick out of it. (*-*)

[/quote]

Actually, the word is hogen (with an "E"), not hogan.  But hogen not specifically the name of the Okinawan language.  hogen is a Japanese word that means "dialect".  So, the Okinawa hogen is the native (aboriginal) language of Okinawa.  The other major islands in the Ryukyu Islands chain also have their own hogen which is different from the Okinawa hogen.  

 

Really??

by Ted - 03/29/2009 - 22:15

I knew that the Okinawan People had their own language but I thought it was called "Okinawan" I had no idea it was called "Hogan"

 

Thanks for the tid bit of info Mr. "Okinawa"