Please tell me about wi and we

bakaKanadajin

先輩

30 Apr 2007

1,173

84

• 22 May 2007

• #1

hiragana stroke order

if you look here there is a wa and a wo, as usual, and also a wi and a we. I would assume these are old hiragana that are no longer used? Anything beyond this? Would love to know just for the sake of knowing!

 

epigene

相変わらず不束者です

10 Nov 2004

4,354

179

• 22 May 2007

• #2

Yes, the kana ゐ and ゑ are now obsolete.

This is the result of what can be called "streamlining" in the Japanese phonetic system over history. The sounds "wi" and "we" did exist in the ancient days but had been replaced by the simpler "i" and "e" sounds.

I have heard professional narrators read old Japanese texts, pronouncing the sounds as they would have been read in the past, and certainly could hear them. The Japanese language has come a long way!

Just for your reference:
W-vowels

 

JimmySeal

Tubthumper

5 Mar 2006

1,516

78

• 22 May 2007

• #3

ゐ and ゑ | Japan Forum

 

bakaKanadajin

先輩

30 Apr 2007

1,173

84

• 24 May 2007

• Thread starter
• #4

ah thanks epigene and Jimmy Seal
actually my Windows XP won't make wi and we, it does this instead:
うぃ ＡＮＤ うぇ

i probably would have never found that thread.

 

J44xm

経験値が足りない

6 Dec 2004

556

13

• 28 May 2007

• #5

You can select ゐ and ゑ via the IME alternative-character menu, however.