Kyowa-go
Kyowa-go (ja:協和語 meaning "Commonwealth language or Concordia language") is a Japanese pidgin language formerly spoken in Manchukuo during the 1930s-40s period. It is also known as 興亜語 (Koa-go), 日満語 (Nichimango), or 大東亜語 (Daitoa-go), meaning "Greater East Asia language".
Description
The term Kyowa-go is derived from the Manchukuo state motto "Concord of Nationalities" (民族協和 mínzú xiéhe) promoted by the Pan-Asian Movement. The pidgin language resulted in the need of Japanese officials and soldiers and the Han and Manchu population that spoke mainly Chinese to communicate with each other. Manchukuo officials later dubbed the pidgin language "Kyowa-go", meaning "Concord language". However, the Japanese also wanted to implement their own language in Manchukuo, saying that Japanese is a language which has a soul, so the language must be spoken correctly.
Kyowa-go died out when Manchukuo fell to the Soviet Red Army in the last days of World War II. Documentation of the pidgin language is rare today.
It was also believed that many of the expressions of Chinese characters in manga (e.g. aru) are derived from Kyowa-go. Hence, it is typical of Chinese characters in anime shows to speak in that manner.
The Japanese were also known to use pidgin languages in Japan itself during the 19th and 20th centuries like Yokohama Pidgin Japanese.
Examples
- 私日本人アルヨ "Watashi nipponjin aru yo"
- Original Japanese: 私は日本人です "Watashi wa nipponjin desu" meaning "I am a Japanese".
- 姑娘（グーニャン）きれいアルネ "Kūnyan (gūnyan) kirei aru ne"
- Original Japanese: お嬢さんはきれいですね "Ojōsan wa kirei desu ne" meaning "Your daughter is beautiful"
- あなた座るの椅子ないアルヨ "Anata suwaru no isu nai aru yo"
- Original Japanese: あなたが座る椅子がありません "Anata ga suwaru isu ga arimasen" meaning "Do not sit in your chair"
- アイヤー（哎呀） "Aiyaa!"
- Exclamation of surprise from the Chinese.