Extended vowels and such.....

[Zelg]

こんにちは

When pronouncing words that are written with extended vowel sounds or double consonants, how important in day to day speaking is it to pronounce these correctly?　For おとうさんdo you really hold the O sound and for a word like がっき　I hear it pronounced in a way that kind of cuts off the sound abruptly at the first "k" and then it continues with the ki sound. I just ask because I dont often notice it when I watch videos where Japanese is being spoken so I would just like to know if its actually done or if its more for writing, or if I've just not noticed it enough between the usual pauses and "ummm" sounds.

ニール

[mmmason8967]

Double consonants are pronounced pretty much the same way that English speakers pronounce two words when the first ends with the same sound that the second one starts with. So "black cat" is like the double-k, "flat tyre" is like the double-t, and "deep pit" is like the double-p. When you say these at a normal speed, you can't pronounce both of the k, t or p sounds so instead you arrive at the first sound, hold it a beat and then say the second sound. The first sound comes out as a slight pause.　The 's' sounds are different: the double-s in massugu is pronounced like "mass suicide"--basically you end up saying the 's' sound twice as long.

In English you wouldn't ever pronounce "Fat Ted" the same way you pronounce "fatted"--the first 't' becomes a pause but it's essentially still there and you won't let it disappear. I think it's the same in Japanese: double consonants are always pronounced (the first becoming a pause) and doubled vowels are always held for twice as long as single vowels. I don't think Japanese speakers let it go any more than we will let "Fat Ted" become "fatted".

マイケル

[Zelg]

マイケル

Thats what I was thinking but just wanted to be sure. It just feels a little odd to hold the vowel sound. I get to wondering how long I should hold it but I guess as long as i dont hold it forever and sound obnoxious then I'll be alright.


ありがとうございます

ニール

[community.japanese]

ニールさん、マイケルさん、
こんにちは
Thank you very much for a brilliant explanation, マイケルsan!

I just wanted to point out that, in Japanese, "long vs short" sounds and "short pause" sound have importance
like ニールsan mentioned. "Short pause" that I worte means a little ツ in writings, like がっき
This little つ is a sign that you have to stop/hold your breath one moment before pronouncing the next sound.
If you don't do it properly, the meaning can change. For example, がっき means music instrument, but
if you fail holding breath in the middle, you'd pronounce the word like "gaki" (がき) which is a slang word
for "kid".
The more complicated "set" is...
きいてください。 [kiite kudasai] with long "i" sound
きってください。 [kitte kudasai] with a little pause (holding your breath after "ki")
きてください。 [kite kudasai] with short "ki" sound without breath pause
All those three mean different things
("please listen", "please cut" and "please come")

Now you know how important long sound (= double vowels) are even in day to day conversation

Natsuko(奈津子),
Team JapanesePod101.com

[Tracel]

Wow, マイケルさん、

Thank you very much for your explanation of the "pause" that happens with つ. That is really the best explanation I have heard to describe it to someone who speaks English. I may have to remember that if I am ever asked this at University. I may be working with some beginning Japanese classes as a volunteer, so this will come in handy.

ニールさん、

The importance of the vowel sound length in Japanese can be pretty crucial. If you called me Tracel obasan, I would probably be ok with that because I am an auntie, but if you called me Tracel obaasan, I may just have to slug you one. The second means grandma of course.

Tracel

[community.japanese]

If you called me Tracel obasan, I would probably be ok with that because I am an auntie, but if you called me Tracel obaasan, I may just have to slug you one. The second means grandma of course.

Tracel

Good one!!

Natsuko(奈津子),
Team JapanesePod101.com