Constructing a Database of Non-Japanese Pronunciations of Different Japanese Romanizations

Abstract

In this paper, we investigated how foreign language speakers pronounce Japanese words transliterated using two major Romanization systems, Hepburn and Kunrei. First, we recorded foreign language speakers pronouncing Romanized Japanese words. Next, Japanese speakers listened to the recordings and wrote down the words in Japanese Kana. Sets of each Romanized Japanese word, its correct Kana expression, its recorded reading, and the Kana dictated from the recording were stored in our database. We also investigated which of the two Romanization systems was pronounced more correctly by foreign language speakers by comparing the correctness of their respective readings. We also investigated which system’s pronunciation by foreign language speakers was judged as more acceptable by Japanese speakers.

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