Resources for learning basic Japanese Pronunciation?

[ipsi()]

I recently decided I had too much money and spare time, so I bought myself some Japanese Textbooks (Genki I + Grammar book), but I'm not entirely sure where to start with learning the pronunciation of the various syllables. Sure, I could just try and memorize the Kana, but then I'd have this horrible English/Chinese accent that would sound like utter gibberish to an actual Japanese person.

So if anyone has a free resource for this, I'd be very grateful. Links to textbooks would be nice too, though I have rather less money now (having purchased the textbooks, I then decided to throw the rest of my money away by having a Treo Pro express-shipped down here).

This is pretty much purely an interest thing, so I'm not going to be devoting a huge amount of time to it, but it would be good to have the basics down properly.

EDIT: If anyone knows of a free IME for Windows Mobile 6.1, that would be good too.

Edited October 12, 2008 at 06:31 AM by ipsi()
Adding a question

[atitarev]

Try this list here:

http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=787986

Any textbook will do, as the Japanese accent is not hard, unless you want to master the pitch accent. Usually, it's just enough to listen and imitate. For the romanised input on Windows Mobile I use CE-Star (works for both Chinese and Japanese). I don't know a reliable input like PenPower for Japanese.

I was able to find a torrent for Genki, try downloading MP3, since you have a book already, or buy, since you have too much money

NHK is providing good basic Japanese lessons in many languages, here's in English (you can find one in Chinese too):

http://www.nhk.or.jp/lesson/english/learn/list/index.html

[ipsi()]

Thanks for the advice - I think you're right, seems easier than Chinese.

I do have the CDs for Genki, but it didn't seem to have anything for pure pronunciation practice (Admittedly, I didn't check CD 2, only 1). I guess I'm used to Chinese, where there's a very limited number of syllables and it's fairly easy to master them all [EDIT: Well, not master, but at least know well enough that you're not totally butchering them, especially as they're all made up of a limited number of initials and finals]. Not sure what to do about trying to get a basic ability for Japanese sounds.

I knew about CE-Star, I was hoping for something free, along the lines of ZTA4 for Chinese (Assuming I can get that working when my WM device arrives), mostly because I've also heard of stability issues with CE-Star

[atitarev]

If you check the list I gave you, you can find the basic syllables:

http://www.siskiyous.edu/NCTA/JapaneseAudioFiles/index.htm

http://www.siskiyous.edu/NCTA/JapaneseAudioFiles/hiragana/index.htm

[ipsi()]

Yeah, I noticed those. They've been a big help. Thanks a lot for the link!

[mucker69]

Japanese is one of the easiest languages to pronounce I find. Very phonetic and without exception. Similar to how Italian is.

[FadedStardust]

this horrible English/Chinese accent that would sound like utter gibberish to an actual Japanese person.

Although Japanese IS one of the easiest languages to pronounce, I think it's true that the languages you've already learned can affect your accent when learning a 3rd or 4th language. My Japanese teacher told me last week that I sometimes pronounce Japanese words with a Chinese accent, so be careful, this actually is a very legitimate concern.

Afterwards we got into a discussion about why Chinese learners of Japanese use the よ particle as much as they do. My guess was that they see it as 语气词 like. I then, of course, had to explain to her what 语气词 are, haha.

[Hofmann]

Wikipedia is a good place to start.

[tooironic]

Although Japanese IS one of the easiest languages to pronounce, I think it's true that the languages you've already learned can affect your accent when learning a 3rd or 4th language.

Indeed, do be careful. Japanese syllables look deceptively easy, but there are a few which can be a bit challenging - not to mention the fact that a lot of them (in Romanji mode) look like Chinese syllables but in fact are pronounced differently - e.g. chi (not like 吃, like 气), tsu (almost like 子, but nothing like 需 or whatever), etc.....Plus the weird r / l combination syllables always manage to stuff me up! The main thing is nipping the interference you're going to get from your other language/s in the bud at the beginner's level so it doesn't cause problems for you further down the track. As everyone knows, this can only be achieved by practice, practice, practice!

EDIT: Oh and also double consonants can be tricky too!

[atitarev]

It's rōmaji, not romanji (ローマ字) Rōma + ji (字)

It's better to learn the pronunciation based on English, not on Chinese, if you learned Chinese before Japanese.

rōmaji - pinyin correspondence

shi - xi

chi - qi

ts is pronounce as ts in "cats", the vowels "u" and "i" become almost silent when surrounded by voiceless consonant.

Many Japanese would prefer English and Chinese speakers to pronounce their R as English/Chinese L, rather than English or Chinese R, in case you can't master it. It's just a flap sound, no vibration.

[atitarev]

Here's a really good resource. I think I need to added this to the resources of our Japanese social group.

Here' a fairy-tale you can listen online and read the transcript:

ネコがネズミをおいかけるわけ - the reason why cats chase mice

And here's the transcript in rōmaji:

neko-ga nezumi-o oikakeru wake

mukashi mukashi, ningen mo umarete inai, ōmukashi-no aru toshi-no-kure-no koto desu.

kamisama-ga, dōbutsu-tachi-ni iimashita.

"mō sugu shōgatsu da. gantan-ni-wa, minna watashi-no tokoro ni kinasai.

soshite, saki-ni kita mono kara juunibanme-made-o, sono toshi-no taishō to shiyō"

tokoro-ga, ukkari mono-no neko-wa atsumaru hi-o wasureta node, tomodachi-no nezumi-ni kikimashita.

suruto nezumi-wa,

"aa, shinnen-no-futsuka da yo"

to, wazato uso-o oshiemashita.

sate, gantan-ni narimashita.

ushi-wa ashi-ga osoi node, asa hayaku-ni ie-o demashita.

chakkari mono-no nezumi-wa, kossori ushi-no senaka-ni notte, kamisama-no-mae-ni kuru to, pyonto tobi-orite,

ichiban saisho-ni kamisama-no mae-ni ikimashita.

sorede nezumi-ga saisho-no toshi-no taishō-ni nari, ushi-ga nibanme-ni narimashita.

sonoato, tora, usagi, tatsu, hebi, uma, hitsuji, saru, niwatori, inu, inoshishi-no jun-ni narimashita.

tokoro-ga neko-wa, nezumi-ni oshierareta tōri, futsuka-ni kamisama no tokoro-e ikimashita.

suruto kamisama-wa,

"osokatta ne. zannen dakedo, kinō kimatta yo"

to, iu de-wa arimasen ka.

kuyashii no na n no.

"nezumi me, yokumo damashita na!"

okotta neko-wa, sorekara zutto, nezumi-o miru to oikakeru yōni narimashita.

o-shimai

Even if you don't understand, you can get a good exposure, how Japanese sounds and link it to the romanisation, Hiragana and Kanji. Try translating it, I can help, you if you get stuck.

Edited May 10, 2009 at 01:21 PM by atitarev