Page 37 - Basic Japanese

Notice that Japanese does not utilize the MID CENTRAL

position on the vowel chart. This is one of the most common
of English vowels; it is sometimes indicated by the phonetic
symbol ə (the schwa or ‘inverted e’). For many English

speakers, this is the most common vowel in weak-stressed
syllables; so the American who forgets that Japanese has no

weak-stressed syllables tends to replace various Japanese
vowels with this relaxed central vowel. For anata ‘you,’ many

Americans will say anata, overstressing the syllable na and

sliding over the other syllables. Be careful to avoid weak
stresses, and you will not confuse the Japanese with this
mid-central vowel.

1.6. Vowels in sequence

In Japanese, any vowel may be followed by any other vowel.

Each is pronounced in a short, clear, evenly stressed
fashion. Here are some examples of vowel sequences:

[cue 01-8]

hai yes

ie house

ue top

oi nephew

aoi is blue