っ ? what is that?

calv930 · (#1 (**permalink**))

what is 'っ' ? I know its not 'tsu' because 'tsu' is 'つ'

i simply need a understanding of that character: 'っ'
soemwhere in a sentence it was って i remember...

thank you JF members

KyleGoetz · (#2 (**permalink**))

I forget the linguistic term, but it basically means you stop all sound and constrict air movement in your mouth and throat.

Essentially, it results in a doubling of the subsequent consonant. For example, your って example, it results in "tte." Assuming your native language is English, it's like changing the "ck" sound in "backer" into the "ck, c" sound of "back, cur!" See how in the first, it's just a quick /k/ sound, but in the second example, you have something like a /k/ sound from "back" followed by a brief stop of all air flowing through your throat and mouth, and then the /k/ sound at the beginning of "cur" again?

That's what it does, but in Japanese.

JayT · (#3 (**permalink**))

Double consonant, represented by small っ

Ex: Hokkaido - ほっかいど

KyleGoetz · (#4 (**permalink**))

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayT

Double consonant, represented by small っ

Ex: Hokkaido - ほっかいど

Technically, it's ほっかいどう. 北海道 (northern sea path).

calv930 · (#5 (**permalink**))

thanks i think i get it its a "k" sound like in english pronounciation of the letter.

duo797 · (#6 (**permalink**))

No, it's not a 'k' sound. It's called a glottal stop. Try saying a word like 'hot cakes'. The っ doubles the consonant that follows. so って is tte and っか is kka. You basically stop the air before that consonant to give the consonant a harder sound.