| Hello Alex, (et al) and "Akeh omeh, koto yolo" to you too! For those of you who dont know Japanese, they are big-time 'clippers', wherein they will take a phrase and cut sections of it out to make a shorter phrase. They do this just as much with their own language as with borrowed words, one of the most famous is 'paso-con' which comes from 'personal computer'... As for the shima/jima phenomena, that is complex. The rules are complex. Some words and pronunciations were fixed (set in place) hundreds or even thousands of years ago, and just remain in that way as a matter of tradition. Some defy the 'rules' as you pointed out Alex. The biggest thing i have found in regards to pronunciation is that there is no /r/ sound in Japanese at all, and they have been writing their own words with the alphabet using an /r/ for over 100 years. Their 5 sounds that they use and /r/ for could much more accurately be pronounced by all foreign people if they used an /l/. It is flapped; the tounge touches the alveolar ridge, making it similar to an English /l/, and also a /d/. But there is no /r/ sound in Japanese, which confuses them when they try to read and pronounce English words (or other languages) with and /r/ and they flap it like and /l/. Then, when they see English /l/ words, they can either go the other way and try to pronounce it like and /r/, or just leave it as their own language naturally pronounces their 5 sounds, as an /l/ and /d/ cross. If you personally substitute the /l/ in all Japanese words that you have seen written with an /r/ (especially with your students and co-workers names!) they will definitely notice an improvement in your pronunciation. Good luck, and have fun! Chris P. Madden |
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