Page 42 - Basic Japanese

1.7. Consonants

In the structural system of every language, a given sound is
made in somewhat different ways, depending on what

sounds precede and follow it. If you hold your hand very
close to your mouth and say the word pan clearly and
naturally, you will feel a slight puff of breath; on the other

hand, if you say span or ban, you will not feel the puff of
breath. A more effective demonstration is to light a match

and hold it close. Those consonants with a puff of breath will
put the match out; those without will merely make it flicker.

This puff of breath is called ASPIRATION; consonants
accompanied by it are said to be ASPIRATED. English p, t, ch,

and k (often spelled with the letter c as in cat) are aspirated
in initial position, but not after the consonant s. Compare

the two words in each of the following pairs:

pin and spin

tick and stick
charge and discharge
key and ski