Are there any rules to the intonations they are discussing in this video?


_Note: video has expired and link has been removed._

I rarely if ever see anything like this covered in Japanese textbooks or
courses besides the hashi (bridge) vs hashi (chopstick) discussion.

Is there no system for this type of intonation, whether it actually creates a
literal difference in meaning as with the hashi example, or whether it simply
creates a different connotation as is shown in the video? Is there no system
as there is pin yin for Chinese? Is the best way to learn this simply to
repeat the Japanese you here and hope you've copied the exact some
pronunciation right - is there no list of these "vocalization"/"pitch
variation" things, and their meanings?




If you're merely interested in the current "standard" accent of Japanese
words, try one of [these learning
resources](https://japanese.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/756/resources-
for-learning-japanese/1496#1496).

* * *

The jokes in this video are based on a more advanced topic of the Japanese
pitch accent, namely アクセントの **平板化** ("flattening"). Briefly, it refers to the
change of the pronunciation of certain words from the non-flat to the flat (or
"unaccented", "monotonous") type. Many common words underwent 平板化 in the past
100 years (e.g., グラス【HLL】 → グラス【LHH】).

For some words, both non-flat and flat versions are widely used today. A good
example is 彼氏; both カレシ【HLL】 and カレシ【LHH】 are common, but the latter sounds
younger and informal.

Occasionally a flat version gains a different nuance. For example, クラブ【HLL】
means generic "club", but クラブ【LHH】 often refers to nightclubs. ネット【HLL】
usually refers to netting and ネット【LHH】 usually refers to the Internet.

Generally speaking, when two types of pitch accent are in use, the flat
version (indicated with `⤴` in your video) tends to sound younger, more
slangy, jargon-like, or sometimes frivolous.

  * [解説：アクセントの平板化](https://kotobaken.jp/mado/09/09-04/)

>
> ところで，「サーファー」「モデル」「バイク」「ビデオ」といった外来語のアクセントの平板化については，「専門家アクセント」という面白い指摘があります。平板化がいち早く起こるのが，その単語を普段からよく使う人たちの間であり，ある種の単語のアクセントを平板化することが，その分野によく通じていることの目印になるというのです。

  * [「アクセントがなくなると心理的距離が近くなる？ーーアクセントの「平板化」を考える」](https://note.com/screenless/n/n01e403ae22f9)

>
> お店の従業員や愛好家など、専門家集団が専門用語を発する際に、言葉が平板化することがあるということです。また多くの研究で、アクセントの平板化は首都圏在住の若年層に進行が認められています。

As for 梶さん, かじさん【HLLL】 is the orthodox pronunciation. Saying かじさん【LHHH】 is not
particularly strange to my ears, but if someone does this intentionally, as in
the video, it sounds like they are emphasizing its frivolous, slangy or
jargon-like quality. For example, at 0:05 and
[1:56](https://youtu.be/TpbOoSbnp5k?t=116), guys are saying 梶裕貴じゃね⤴ , and they
are mimicking a [チャラ男](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/5094/5010)'s way
of speaking. At [2:20](https://youtu.be/TpbOoSbnp5k?t=140), Kaji himself is
playing the role of formal 梶さん⤵ and frivolous 梶さん⤴.

Note that all the people in this video are professional _seiyu_ who know how
平板化 works. Ordinary people are not consciously aware of this.

