A small question

[Mycernius]

What is the correct name given to the bar used in Katakana to extend the vowel sound? All my books seem to only refer to it as a bar.

 

[strongvoicesforward]

What is the correct name given to the bar used in Katakana to extend the vowel sound? All my books seem to only refer to it as a bar.

In Japanese that is called "bou" or "yoko bou."

I usually use the former of the two words. Hope that helps.

 

[KrazyKat]

I typed it into JWPCe and it came up with:

ー 【ちょうおん】 long vowel mark (usually only used in katakana)

 

[epigene]

I think it's called a "macron."

accents - diacritical marks

• é - accent acute
• è - accent grave
• ê - circumflex
• ë - umlaut or diaerisis
• ç - cedilla
• ñ - tilde
• ø - streg
• ð - eth (capital form Ð)
• å - bolle
• æ - ligature
• œ - ligature
• ē - macron
• č - háček
• ŭ - crescent

 

[Glenn]

I learned it as the "vowel lengthening morpheme." Macron is the name of the bar over a letter in romanization, so if you're referring specifically to the character used in katakana then I think Kat has it right.

 

[Tensai Bakabon]

What is the correct name given to the bar used in Katakana to extend the vowel sound? All my books seem to only refer to it as a bar.

I can confirm KrazyKat's answer. This is a chouon. See Redirect to ../afaq/.html for a fairly comprehensive list of symbols like this.