JAPANESE PRONUNCIATION
| a | like | a | in | father |
| e | ” | e | ” | men |
| i | ” | i | ” | pin |
| o | ” | o | ” | pony |
| u | ” | oo | ” | book |
| ai | as in | aisle | ||
| ei | ” | weigh | ||
| au ō | as | o in bone | ||
| ū | as | oo in moon | ||
i in the middle of a word and u in the middle or at the end of a word are sometimes almost inaudible.
The consonants are all sounded, as in English: g, however, has only the hard sound, as in give, although the nasal ng is often heard; ch and s are always soft, as in check and sin; and z before u has the sound of dz. In the case of double consonants, each one must be given its full sound.
There are as many syllables as vowels. There is practically no accent; but care must be taken to distinguish between o and ō, u and ū, of which the second is more prolonged than the first.
Be sure to avoid the flat sound of a, which is always pronounced ah.
Sketch Map of Old Japan
Adapted from map in original edition of Hildreth
Text within Map
The Japanese islands are studded by lofty volcanic mountains, especially Nipon, which is traversed through its whole length by a chain which forms the water shed of the island and the highest peaks of which are covered with perpetual snow. There are seven active volcanoes, three in Kiusiu and four in Nipon, besides four other mountains sending out hot springs; along the coast there are several burning islands, the rivers are numerous but short. The empire includes eight great subdivisions, called Do, or Ways, viz.: 1. Saikaidō, west sea way, nine provinces; 2. Nankaido, south sea way, six provinces; 3. Sanyodo, south mountain way, eight provinces; 4. Sanindo, north mountain way, eight provinces; 5. Gokinaido, five provinces, imperial domain; 6. Tōkaidō, east sea way, fifteen provinces; 7. Tosando, east mountain way, eight provinces; 8. Hokurokudo, way of the north districts, seven provinces. Tsu, Iki and Jezo are not included in this arrangement.
NOTE
In the pronunciation of Japanese names and words, and in their representation in European letters, an n is frequently added at the end of a syllable; as, Nangasaki for Nagasaki, Fingo for Figo, etc.
JAPAN
As It Was and Is