Also Known As:
八丈語, 八丈方言, 青ヶ島方言, Aogashima
Dialects & Varieties
- Hachijo
- Aogashima
personal communication on Japonic languages
Thomas Dougherty. May 2014. Personal Communication on Japonic languages.
Endangered
100 percent certain, based on the evidence available
<8,000
Native Speakers Worldwide
Speaker Number Trends
Speaker Number Trend 3
Only about half of community members speak the language. Speaker numbers are decreasing steadily, but not at an accelerated pace.
3
Domains of Use
Domain Of Use 4
Used mainly only in the home and/or with family, and may not be the primary language even in these domains for many community members.
4
Transmission
Transmission 3
Some adults in the community are speakers, but the language is not spoken by children.
3
Speakers
Native or fluent speakers:
No results found.
Second-language speakers and learners
No results found.
Semi-speakers or rememberers
No results found.
Children:
No results found.
Young adults
0
Older adults
No results found.
Elders
No results found.
Ethnic or community population
No results found.
Year information was gathered
No results found.
Comments on speakers
Speakers generally neutral or positive about the language, though many consider it to be "just a dialect". All speakers are bilingual in Hachijo and Japanese.
Location and Context
Countries
Japan
Location Description
spoken on Hachijo-jima and Aogashima, approximately 300 km south of Toyko.
Government Support
no
Institutional Support
no
Speakers' Attitude
neutral or positive
Other Languages Used By The Community
Japanese
Number of Other Language Speakers:
all
Domains of Other Languages:
all
Writing Systems
Standard orthography:
No results found.
Writing system:
kana
Other writing systems used:
No results text.
Comments on writing systems:
no official orthography; If speakers ever write, they employ kana/Japanese syllabary scripts.
Recent Resources
The Wikipedia page for the Hachijō language, somwehat detailed, though could be further expanded.