talk
Most people understand standard Japanese. However, in casual conversation people will use their heritage dialect. For the majority this is the language of Hachijo, the only variety of Japanese descended from the "Eastern Dialect" of the Nara period see the short phraselist at Kitadaito. For the minorities, namely Okinawan migrants, the native languages is Okinawan, though due to the bi-heritage nature of the population Standard Japanese is gaining more currency, especially among the minorities. Some Okinawans also speak the Hachijo speech.
