Japanese Phonology: Difference between revisions

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* {{Phoneme|ja|n}} is palatalized to {{Phone|ja|ɲ̟}} before {{Phoneme|ja|i}}. Some speakers realize it as alveolar before {{Phoneme|ja|u}}.
* {{Phoneme|ja|n}} is palatalized to {{Phone|ja|ɲ̟}} before {{Phoneme|ja|i}}. Some speakers realize it as alveolar before {{Phoneme|ja|u}}.
* Consonants are strongly palatalized before {{Phoneme|ja|i}}; {{Phoneme|ja|Ci}} typically becomes {{Phone|ja|Cʲi}}.
* Consonants are strongly palatalized before {{Phoneme|ja|i}}; {{Phoneme|ja|Ci}} typically becomes {{Phone|ja|Cʲi}}.
* {{Phoneme|ja|ɴ}}, the moraic nasal, has variable realization. Word-finally, it is usually a uvular nasal consonant, or a close to close-mid nasal vowel. Before a vowel, approximant, {{Phoneme|ja|s}}, or {{Phoneme|ja|h}}, it is typically a close to close-mid nasal vowel. Before other consonants, it takes on the same place of articulation.
* {{Phoneme|ja|ɴ}}, the moraic nasal, has variable realization.
* {{Phoneme|ja|s, z}} are palatalized to {{Phone|ja|ɕ, ʑ}} before {{Phoneme|ja|i}}.
* {{Phoneme|ja|z}} is typically {{Phone|ja|<sup>d</sup>z}} initially and after {{Phoneme|ja|ɴ}}; initially, it is palatalized to {{Phone|ja|<sup>d</sup>ʑ}} before {{Phoneme|ja|i}}.
* {{Phoneme|ja|h}} is realized as {{Phone|ja|ç}} and {{Phone|ja|ɸ}} before {{Phoneme|ja|i}} and {{Phoneme|ja|u}} respectively.
* {{Phoneme|ja|hh}} is intervocallically realized as {{Phone|ja|çç}}, {{Phone|ja|xx}}, or {{Phone|ja|ɸɸ}}.
* {{Phoneme|ja|j}} affects the preceding consonant just like {{Phoneme|ja|i}}, but is absorbed.
* {{Phoneme|ja|w}} has little to no rounding, except after {{Phoneme|ja|o}}, and has no spreading. {{Phone|ja|ɰ}}.

== Consonants ==

{|class="bordered" style="text-align:center;"
|+Phonemic vowels in Tokyo dialect.
!!!Front!!Back
|-
!Close
|i||u
|-
!Mid
|e||o
|-
!Open
|colspan="2"|a
|}

* {{Phoneme|ja|u}} resembles {{Phone|ja|ɯ}}. It is compressed, unrounded, without spreading: narrowly {{Phone|ja|ü̜̞}} or {{Phone|ja|ɯ̹̞̈}}. It may be {{Phone|ja|ɨ}} among younger speakers.
* {{Phoneme|ja|i, u}} are devoiced {{Phone|ja|i̥, u̥}} between voiceless consonants. Preceding fricatives may entirely replace them.
* {{Phoneme|ja|su}} is often realized as {{Phone|ja|s}}

== Tone ==

Japanese is a pitch-accent language. The first mora of a word is either high or low pitch, and the second mora is the opposite pitch. High pitch is represented with an acute accent: {{Phoneme|ja|á}}. A high mora within a word will make preceding morae in that word high-pitched.


{{Bibliography|
{{Bibliography|

Revision as of 02:45, 26 October 2025

Phonemic consonants in Tokyo dialect.
Bilabial Dental Alveolar Postalveolar Palatal Velar Uvular Glottal
Plosive p
b
 t
d
 k
ɡ
Affricate ts
Nasal
m
n
ɴ
Flap
ɽ
Fricative s
z
 h
Approximant
j
w
  • /p, t, tˢ, k/ are moderately aspirated
  • /tˢ/ is geminated as /ttˢ/
  • /b/ is typically realized as [b], but can become [β] or [v̠] in rapid speech.
  • /ɡ/ often becomes [ɣ] intervocalically. It becomes [ŋ] medially in older speakers, with some exceptions.
  • /ɽ/ is postalveolar medially. It is typically realized as an affricate [d̠ɹ̝̆] initially and after {{Phoneme|ja|ɴ}. It may be postalveolar [l̠] in any position. Sometimes it may be approximant [ɹ].
  • Phonemic /tˢ/ is normally realized as a cluster [ts]. It is palatalized to [tɕ] before /i/.
  • /n/ is palatalized to [ɲ̟] before /i/. Some speakers realize it as alveolar before /u/.
  • Consonants are strongly palatalized before /i/; /Ci/ typically becomes [Cʲi].
  • /ɴ/, the moraic nasal, has variable realization. Word-finally, it is usually a uvular nasal consonant, or a close to close-mid nasal vowel. Before a vowel, approximant, /s/, or /h/, it is typically a close to close-mid nasal vowel. Before other consonants, it takes on the same place of articulation.
  • /s, z/ are palatalized to [ɕ, ʑ] before /i/.
  • /z/ is typically [dz] initially and after /ɴ/; initially, it is palatalized to [dʑ] before /i/.
  • /h/ is realized as [ç] and [ɸ] before /i/ and /u/ respectively.
  • /hh/ is intervocallically realized as [çç], [xx], or [ɸɸ].
  • /j/ affects the preceding consonant just like /i/, but is absorbed.
  • /w/ has little to no rounding, except after /o/, and has no spreading. [ɰ].

Consonants

Phonemic vowels in Tokyo dialect.
Front Back
Close i u
Mid e o
Open a
  • /u/ resembles [ɯ]. It is compressed, unrounded, without spreading: narrowly [ü̜̞] or [ɯ̹̞̈]. It may be [ɨ] among younger speakers.
  • /i, u/ are devoiced [i̥, u̥] between voiceless consonants. Preceding fricatives may entirely replace them.
  • /su/ is often realized as [s]

Tone

Japanese is a pitch-accent language. The first mora of a word is either high or low pitch, and the second mora is the opposite pitch. High pitch is represented with an acute accent: /á/. A high mora within a word will make preceding morae in that word high-pitched.

Bibliography

  • Okada, Hideo. "Japanese." In Handbook of the International Phonetic Association. Cambridge University Press, 1999.
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