7.4. What parts of Japanese are difficult for English speakers to pronounce?
The following features of Japanese pronunciation cause problems for
English speakers:
-
The tsu in tsunami (tidal wave), especially at the beginning
of a word.
-
The sound represented in rōmaji as r is not an English `r'
or an English `l'. See 7.3. What is roomaji `r' really? for a full discussion.
-
Words like hyakutake, the name of a comet, are difficult because
there are no English words that have a consonant followed by a `y'
sound and a vowel in the same syllable, unless the vowel is `u' (as in
Hugh). So hyakutake may come out like hiyakutake.
-
Japanese pitch accent. See 7.5. What is Japanese pitch accent?
-
It is difficult for English speakers to correctly produce Japanese
short and long vowels, such as correctly pronouncing ito (string)
and Itō, a surname.
- It is difficult for English speakers to distinguish between the
`n' in kon'yaku (engagement to be married) and in kon'nyaku
(a jelly-like foodstuff), or to correctly pronounce a Japanese name
like Shin'ichi or Jun'ichiro. See
7.1. What are the differences between kana writing and pronunciation? for a fuller discussion.
sci.lang.japan FAQ
/ 7. Pronunciation
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