Help !!!

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先輩

6 May 2005

37

0

• 6 May 2005

• #1

Hey folks. Im new to the Japanese language and languages in general until a friend of mine introduced me to the beauty of Japanese culture, theatre and music and now Im hooked and am looking forward to visiting this stunning land in the near future.
I managed to get hold, from my local library a Japanese language course on CD, however, there appears to be notes or a booklet missing etc. Now Im listening and repeating Japanese like a parrot and picking up stuff but now Im confused with some of the particles. Ive looked some information up on the internet and am none the wiser.
My question is are the particles wo and o the same also sometimes the Japanese speakers ga sounds more like na is this the same or am I hearing things.

 

epigene

相変わらず不束者です

10 Nov 2004

4,354

179

• 6 May 2005

• #2

"o" and "wo" are basically the same. They are typed differently for the sake of convenience in Japanese language input on the keyboard.

As for "ga," you are hearing the nasal "g" (bidakuon--soft "ng" sound) compared to the hard "g." Traditionally, it occured mid-sentence. The hard "g" was pronounced at the beginning of a sentence.

You may hear it in teaching audio, but it is no longer the dominant pronunciation style in modern Japanese. You can ignore this and just pronounced it both at beginning and mid-sentence as "g."

HTH!!

 

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先輩

6 May 2005

37

0

• 6 May 2005

• Thread starter
• #3

arigatou!!

Thanks for clearing that up for me. This forum is essential reading and the best and friendliest I have come across on the subject.

 

Tsuyoiko

DON'T PANIC!

11 Mar 2005

3,136

165

• 6 May 2005

• #4

I have found this site useful for grammar - especially if you haven't grasped the kana yet as it is all in romaji. It has sections on particles, adjectives, verbs, prepositions and kana.

 

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先輩

6 May 2005

37

0

• 7 May 2005

• Thread starter
• #5

Thanks I will check it out looks good...

 

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Ben W Bell

先輩

13 Sep 2004

135

3

• 9 May 2005

• #6

Out of interest what course is it you're doing on CD?

 

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先輩

6 May 2005

37

0

• 10 May 2005

• Thread starter
• #7

Pimsleurs Japanese comprehensive

 

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Ben W Bell

先輩

13 Sep 2004

135

3

• 10 May 2005

• #8

Ah right. There is no booklet that comes with the Pimsleur course. Well there is one but it's mainly about context of what you are learning and not of any help in the lessons themselves.

 

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先輩

6 May 2005

37

0

• 11 May 2005

• Thread starter
• #9

I thought it a little strange that there was no documentation. What do you make of the Pimsleur stuff ??