A quick lesson in the Okinawan language, Uchina-guchi, which if your not Okinawa, you call it Hogen. Before Okinawa got attached to Japan, it had its own language. Alot of the older people of Okinawa still use this language and many of the Okinawan music is sung in this language, but this is changing. These days, the new, younger generation are using the official Japanese language and the songs are more and more getting replaced with Japanese lyrics.

Hogen has only 3 vowels so its rather difficult to learn. A, I, and U are the only vowels used so the rest are replaced by one of these. I think E is subsituted by I and O is by U.

Next, the writing below isn’t exactly how you spell it, its just how your pronounce it. Hogen isn’t a written language, its just a verbal one. On to the examples!

Hello! : Chu ugan abira / Hai sai
Welcome! : Men so ri
Thank you! : Nefei day biru
What is this? : Kurei nu yai bee ga?
This is Goya. : Kurei Goya yai binn.

How much is Goya? : Kuno Goya ya cha ssai yaibi ga?
I would like to buy this. : Kuri koubi sai binn.

My name is Christopher. : Wa no jey Christopher yai binn.

Numbers
one : dei
two : taa
three : nee
four : you
five : ichi
six : moo
seven : nana
eight : yaa
nine : kukunu
ten : toe

And there ya have it. Survival Hogen if you get caught on one of the island of Okinawa were people only speak this language and you need to buy some Goya. I need to ask Hiromi if I got anything wrong. She knows this language because she was forced to learn by her parents. Neat huh?