Prononciation help please

Galvin · 22 Jun 2004

I been finding that some words with ka,ki,ku,ke,and ko. Are very difficult to voice. For example the verb hakobu. I just have a very hard time to voice ko instead it doesn't sound like ko at all, but something else. Probably because i'm an english speaker. Same with hako. Seems on words where my toung is flat on the bottom of my mouth. I find it very difficult to get a ka, ki, etc sound after it. Unless i'm doing long o sound then no problem

Anyone else ever get this problem, and tips on helping with it?

Thanks

Golgo_13 · 23 Jun 2004

Remember the actor James Caan? That would be very close to "ka"

Say "key" but instead of elongating the "e", make it a short, snappy "i" -- "ki"

Same thing with "coo". Make the "u" much shorter to get "ku"

Say "Kay" (which in Romaji would be "Kei"), but instead of fully voicing "ay" stop at where it sounds like the Spanish "Que?" to get "ke" sound

Now the tough one, "ko". Best I could suggest is to say the Mexican snack "Taco" and make the "o" very short.

Otherwise, you just have to keep practicing with a native speaker.

Ganbatte kudasai.

guldo · 23 Jun 2004

I'm just glad to be Italian

Galvin · 23 Jun 2004

Golgo_13 said:
Remember the actor James Caan? That would be very close to "ka"

Say "key" but instead of elongating the "e", make it a short, snappy "i" -- "ki"

Same thing with "coo". Make the "u" much shorter to get "ku"

Say "Kay" (which in Romaji would be "Kei"), but instead of fully voicing "ay" stop at where it sounds like the Spanish "Que?" to get "ke" sound

Now the tough one, "ko". Best I could suggest is to say the Mexican snack "Taco" and make the "o" very short.

Otherwise, you just have to keep practicing with a native speaker.

Ganbatte kudasai.

THanks, but not quite what I was asking for. Guess i'll just have to practice.
I know how to pronounce k sounds. Just saying them after certain consonants makes it very difficult to get them out.

So when this happens sometimes and when talking to my friend on the phone about some words he don't quite understand the word i'm talking about.

Guess once I go to japan this fall i'll get much better practice with hard to pronounce words.

Thanks

Prononciation help please

Galvin

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Golgo_13

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guldo

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Galvin

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