Tosa dialect
The Tosa dialect (Japanese: 土佐弁 tosa-ben) is a Japanese Shikoku dialect spoken in central and eastern Kochi Prefecture (former Tosa Province), including Kochi City. The dialect of the Western region of Kochi Prefecture is called the Hata dialect (Japanese: 幡多弁 hata-ben) and is drastically different from the Central and Eastern dialect. Classification Shikoku dialects are divided into Western (Tokushima, Kagawa and Ehime), Southern (Kochi), and also occasionally Southwest (western Kochi and southern Ehime). The Tosa dialect exists in a somewhat unique position due to being historically isolated from other prefectures because of the Shikoku Mountains. Kochi Prefecture dialects are broadly divided into Western and Eastern-Central. Western dialect - Shimanto (city), Tosashimizu, Sukumo, Otsuki, Mihara, Kuroshio (excluding the former town of Saga), Shimanto (town) (excluding the former town of Kubokawa), Yusuhara. Possesses a Tokyo standard pitch accent. Known as the 'Hata dialect’. Eastern-Central dialect - All other areas in Kochi. Possesses a Keihan standard, or Tarui standard pitch accent. Known as the 'Tosa dialect’, and will be described in this article. The coastal region from Muroto to Toyo has been influenced by the Tokushima Awa dialect and the Kinki dialects. Phonology The most notable phonetic traits of the Tosa dialect are