JapanForum.com  


Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools
(#1 (permalink))
Old
ThinasLWD (Offline)
JF Regular
 
Posts: 45
Join Date: Dec 2008
Strange Sign.. - 12-15-2008, 08:40 PM

Ok.. so like, my name is spelled like this in Japanese:

トーマス

Buttt... why is the 'ー' in there ?

What kindda function and pronounciation does it have ?

Thanks n_n
Reply With Quote
(#2 (permalink))
Old
Keaton421's Avatar
Keaton421 (Offline)
JF Old Timer
 
Posts: 672
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: USA
12-15-2008, 08:43 PM

The ー lengthens the vowel that comes directly before it. The function when spelling foreign names and words is to just get the accent and syllable length correct.


Oh! I wish I was in the land of Ramen
Otaku there are not downtrodden
Kawaii! Kawaii! Kawaii, Desu Ne!


MAXIMUM VIPER
Defender of the Scholar, Scourge of the Otaku, Savior of Japan
Reply With Quote
(#3 (permalink))
Old
ThirdSight's Avatar
ThirdSight (Offline)
Bane of Stupidity
 
Posts: 467
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: California
Send a message via AIM to ThirdSight
12-15-2008, 08:43 PM

It functions to elongate the last sound of the character.

The Romanji of it would be Toomasu.

This is only with Katakana though.


-M@

How in the world do people reach 1,000+ posts?


Skadoosh.
Reply With Quote
(#4 (permalink))
Old
Keaton421's Avatar
Keaton421 (Offline)
JF Old Timer
 
Posts: 672
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: USA
12-15-2008, 08:46 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by ThirdSight View Post
It functions to elongate the last sound of the character.
dude i don't need you for this i can take care of it, i got it ok


Oh! I wish I was in the land of Ramen
Otaku there are not downtrodden
Kawaii! Kawaii! Kawaii, Desu Ne!


MAXIMUM VIPER
Defender of the Scholar, Scourge of the Otaku, Savior of Japan
Reply With Quote
(#5 (permalink))
Old
CaptainThunder (Offline)
JF Old Timer
 
Posts: 105
Join Date: Jul 2008
12-15-2008, 09:00 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by Keaton421 View Post
dude i don't need you for this i can take care of it, i got it ok
To be fair, both of your posts are timestamped at 3:43; you were probably typing them at the same time.
Reply With Quote
(#6 (permalink))
Old
Keaton421's Avatar
Keaton421 (Offline)
JF Old Timer
 
Posts: 672
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: USA
12-15-2008, 09:08 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptainThunder View Post
To be fair, both of your posts are timestamped at 3:43; you were probably typing them at the same time.
What a poser


Oh! I wish I was in the land of Ramen
Otaku there are not downtrodden
Kawaii! Kawaii! Kawaii, Desu Ne!


MAXIMUM VIPER
Defender of the Scholar, Scourge of the Otaku, Savior of Japan
Reply With Quote
(#7 (permalink))
Old
CaptainThunder (Offline)
JF Old Timer
 
Posts: 105
Join Date: Jul 2008
12-15-2008, 09:11 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by Keaton421 View Post
What a poser
Huh?

No offense taken, just wondering what you're saying
Reply With Quote
(#8 (permalink))
Old
catijoy's Avatar
catijoy (Offline)
JF Regular
 
Posts: 35
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
12-15-2008, 09:50 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by ThirdSight View Post
It functions to elongate the last sound of the character.

The Romanji of it would be Toomasu.

This is only with Katakana though.
Just wondering, if that only works with katakana, what about hiragana?


Shabon Freedom!

Crazy... Toys in the attic, I am crazy...
Truly gone fishing...
They must have taken my marbles away!


- Pink Floyd ~ The Trial
Reply With Quote
(#9 (permalink))
Old
MMM's Avatar
MMM (Offline)
JF Ossan
 
Posts: 12,200
Join Date: Jun 2007
12-15-2008, 09:53 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by catijoy View Post
Just wondering, if that only works with katakana, what about hiragana?
No, hiragana is different.
Reply With Quote
(#10 (permalink))
Old
Keaton421's Avatar
Keaton421 (Offline)
JF Old Timer
 
Posts: 672
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: USA
12-15-2008, 10:14 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptainThunder View Post
Huh?

No offense taken, just wondering what you're saying
I just like to give ThirdSight a hard time over various things, seeing as how he's completely awesome.

Catijoy, vowels can be extended with Hiragana too. Usually you just repeat the vowel, except in the case of お and え, where う and い are used respectively


Oh! I wish I was in the land of Ramen
Otaku there are not downtrodden
Kawaii! Kawaii! Kawaii, Desu Ne!


MAXIMUM VIPER
Defender of the Scholar, Scourge of the Otaku, Savior of Japan
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




Copyright 2003-2006 Virtual Japan.
SEO by vBSEO 3.0.0 RC6