Emphasized Writing

The Katakana writing system is used primarily for words borrowed from foreign languages.

The benefit is: a beginning Japanese students can quickly recognize English words commonly used in Japanese.

Note:

Long vowel sounds are accomplished by adding a (–) after the vowel.

Many foreign words are shortened when used in everyday spoken language.

* exception to pattern

* exception to pattern

** rarely used

Transcribing Contracted Sounds

There are smaller versions of ヤ, ユ, and ヨ; roughly one half the size (ャ, ュ, and ョ). These are used to created contracted sounds.  These sounds are a single sylable and are accomplished with a “chopping” analogy to the pronounciation. (pretend to be accompanying a karate chop with these sounds)