Japanese Accents

People who are studying the Japanese language often struggle with pronunciation. Fortunately, there are many ways to improve your ability to pronounce words correctly. The more exposure you have to listening to the language and working out the pronunciation of individual words, the quicker you will develop a Japanese accent that even native speakers will understand.

If you would like to learn Japanese then you will need to know more than just how to pronounce individual words. While learning the pronunciation of individual words is an essential first step, many people struggle once they have to put these words into sentences. The inflection and intonation that you use when speaking in complete sentences will affect your ability to communicate clearly.

To begin learning about Japanese accents, it is important to sound out individual letters and words. Learning the Japanese alphabet is a great start. You can use view individual letters on text or online, but keep in mind that you cannot always equate how a letter will sound in English with how it should be pronounce in Japanese. For instance, “r” syllables (ra, re, ri, ro, ru) should not be pronounced with the hard “r” sound that you are accustomed to. Instead, pronunciation of the Japanese “r” is between the “l” and “r” sounds.

Subtle Japanese pronunciation differences can make a big difference in your ability to communicate with other speakers of the language. For instance, while the word “ikura” (“how much?”) stresses the second syllable, “ikura” (“salmon roe”) stresses the first syllable. Such factors as where you stress syllables, when you raise or lower your pitch, or when you pause in a word or sentence, will help you to communicate more effectively.

An effective way to pick up on Japanese accents is to watch Japanese movies and television shows. If you are on the go, listening to a Japanese podcast is a fantastic way to improve your pronunciation skills. You will even find that there are podcasts designed specifically to teach English speakers about Japanese grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. Listening to native Japanese speakers as much as possible is a great way to improve your phonology, or the way you speak Japanese aloud.

Don’t expect to pronounce Japanese words perfectly right away. Give yourself time to progressively develop your skills. Certain aspects of the language may not be apparent to you at first. With time, as you learn more of the language, you will begin to pick up on pronunciation differences. Even if a trip to Japan is not anywhere in your near future, you can still learn Japanese accents from native speakers by subscribing to a Japanese podcast, watching movies made in Japan, and so on.

Japanesepod101 subscribers will have a comprehensive set of tools and resources for learning how to speak Japanese. If you are ready to delve into the learning process, the program offers intuitive lessons that are suitable for students of all levels. You can go through lessons at your own pace whenever is most convenient for your schedule. In addition, you can take lessons along with you via the podcast and other great tools.

With practice and time, pronouncing Japanese will become easier for you. Improving your ability to speak the language will provide numerous rewards. When you do make a trip to Japan someday, you will become more engrossed in conversation with Japanese people, learn more about the culture, and enhance your overall experience. In the meantime, learning a second language will present you with an exciting challenge that becomes more fulfilling with every new aspect of the language that you learn.