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Doolittle81 · 03-21-08, 02:54 PM

Hiei is pronounced Hee-Ay.

Ei is always pronounced Ay, such as in the word for "English", which is Eigo, which is pronounced Ay-Go. The "H" in the Hee syllable is not emphatic/sharp.

On the earlier pronunciation point, there is a distinct difference between the simple Japanese vowel "E" being always pronounced "eh", never as "Ay".

Actually, phonetically speaking, there is in any language a distinct difference between a short E (eh) sound and long A (ay) sound.

Walrusbomb, it sounds like you may studied Japanese and have spent some time in Japan..and some of your pronunciation points have a degree of accuracy, representing perhaps what you heard or learned colloqially, but some other points are wrong....or maybe I'm not understanding your explanations of pronunciation....your choice of phonetics versus mine.

For the record, I speak Japanese (and Putonghua/Mandarin, for that matter)...the Japanese learned through 2 1/2 years of college level study at a branch of a Japanese University (Teikyo no Daigaku)...and I lived in Japan long ago in two locations at two different times for a total of six years. [My Mandarin is only one year in depth at the college level]. FYI, I also speak Russian and German.

An understanding of Phonetics (how to make certain sounds and how to represent those sounds in phonetic 'writing') is essential if one is to gain any level of credible/acceptable pronunciation in any language. In that regard, the Japanese pronunciation of the consonent H is identified as being a "voiceless fricative".. H in Japanese before i, ya, yu, and yo is pronounced like the h in the English word "human"...meaning more 'fricative" I think that is what you meant when you said the H is not spoken; it is, just "softer" in layman's terrms, less pronounced/emphatic.
H in Japanese before a, e, or o is pronounced like the English H in Hot. Thus, the Japanese word for "Yes" is Hai...and the H is VERY pronounced/sharp...sounding just like the English word "Hi", and NOT like the English naval term "Aye"...

Likewise, the word for Japanese (language) is Ni Hongo and is pronouced with the "H" as in nee-hawn-goh not as nee-awn-goh.

03-21-08, 02:54 PM	#13
Doolittle81 Commodore Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Las Vegas, Nevada Posts: 624 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	Hiei is pronounced Hee-Ay. Ei is always pronounced Ay, such as in the word for "English", which is Eigo, which is pronounced Ay-Go. The "H" in the Hee syllable is not emphatic/sharp. On the earlier pronunciation point, there is a distinct difference between the simple Japanese vowel "E" being always pronounced "eh", never as "Ay". Actually, phonetically speaking, there is in any language a distinct difference between a short E (eh) sound and long A (ay) sound. Walrusbomb, it sounds like you may studied Japanese and have spent some time in Japan..and some of your pronunciation points have a degree of accuracy, representing perhaps what you heard or learned colloqially, but some other points are wrong....or maybe I'm not understanding your explanations of pronunciation....your choice of phonetics versus mine. For the record, I speak Japanese (and Putonghua/Mandarin, for that matter)...the Japanese learned through 2 1/2 years of college level study at a branch of a Japanese University (Teikyo no Daigaku)...and I lived in Japan long ago in two locations at two different times for a total of six years. [My Mandarin is only one year in depth at the college level]. FYI, I also speak Russian and German. An understanding of Phonetics (how to make certain sounds and how to represent those sounds in phonetic 'writing') is essential if one is to gain any level of credible/acceptable pronunciation in any language. In that regard, the Japanese pronunciation of the consonent H is identified as being a "voiceless fricative".. H in Japanese before i, ya, yu, and yo is pronounced like the h in the English word "human"...meaning more 'fricative" I think that is what you meant when you said the H is not spoken; it is, just "softer" in layman's terrms, less pronounced/emphatic. H in Japanese before a, e, or o is pronounced like the English H in Hot. Thus, the Japanese word for "Yes" is Hai...and the H is VERY pronounced/sharp...sounding just like the English word "Hi", and NOT like the English naval term "Aye"... Likewise, the word for Japanese (language) is Ni Hongo and is pronouced with the "H" as in nee-hawn-goh not as nee-awn-goh. __________________ Flight Sim Movies .............................................. .........................View "Faith, Hope, and Charity" movie Last edited by Doolittle81; 03-21-08 at 03:40 PM.