SHI-TAMAJUTSU

The Art of the Four Spheres

Paintball as a Martial Art

PRONOUNCING JAPANESE

CONSONANTS

All consonants in Japanese are basically pronounced the same as English, with the following exceptions:

G -- is always hard as on (g)reen, (g)row, and (g)ot. NEVER as in (g)iant
R -- is pronounced with the tip of your tongue at the top of your mouth, just behind the front teeth (as if you were saying "L". (This makes it SOUND like it is pronounced with a roll, like in a Scottish accent, but it is not deliberately rolled in that manner.)
TS -- as the (t's) in "I(t's) a nice day"

DOUBLE CONSONANTS

These are pronounced fully, like in the English pe(nkn)ife. Not as in ru(nn)ing. If running were a Japanese word it would be pronounced run-ning, not run-ing.

SHORT, OR SINGLE, VOWELS

a -- as in f(a)ther
e -- as in g(e)t -- this also includes at the END of a word.
i -- as in macaron(i)
o -- as in p(o)lo
u -- as in p(u)t or b(oo)k

LONG, OR DOUBLE, VOWELS

These would be understood when a Japanese-reading person reads a character. When Japanese is spelled out in English letters (known as romanji), the sounds are expressed with a line over the vowel, or more commonly these days, with a double vowel. (I was told the latter has gained favour as it is easier than having special software codes to put a line over a letter.)

aa -- as in dr(a)ma or (ah)
ee -- as in M(ay)
ii -- as in kn(ee)
oo -- as in (ow)n
uo -- as in c(oo)l

DIPTHONGS

Dipthongs are two vowels together like in the English "r(ea)d". Unlike English BOTH vowels are pronounced as Short, or Single, Vowels (as above). If "read" was a Japanese word it would be pronounced "re-ad".

The exception to this rule is the dipthong "ei", it is promounced as in M(ay), and kn(ee).

The other exception is "ou" at the end of the word. It is pronounced as in d(ough), or th(ough).

GENERAL PRONUNCIATION

Very, very, VERY rarely is any syllable stressed more than another. Intonation is in the voice, not the pronunciation of the word. However, it is acceptable for non-Japanese-speakers to stress the first syllable, as that's what we do anyway. (The Japanese are very tolerant, they just appreciate the fact that you are trying.)

Remember, any "e" at the end of the word is pronounced:

take -- ta - kay
kitune -- kee - tun - ay

A HINT

Japanese is broken down into syllables. I find the best way is to break the word up and then I find it easier to pronounce correctly. (ESPECIALLY with the longer words.)

shi-tamajutsu -- she - ta - ma - ju - tsu
hitsuyoujoukan -- hi - tsu - yo - u - jo - u - kan
issaku -- is - s - a - ku
kingusari -- kin - gu - sa - ri
kaze -- ka - ze

HOWEVER: Japanese does not have "ng", "nk", "th" sounds like English. Don't pronounce them like you would in English.

For instance:

ginko -- not gink-o (to rhyme with "stink-o"), but gin-ko.
anke -- not ank-eh, but an-ke.
atho -- not ath-o but at-ho.

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(Purei katai! Purei hayai! Purei seefu!)
(Play hard! Play fast! Play safe!)