Why are some Japanese words pronounced with a voiced sound?283

In Japanese, there are two types of sounds: voiced and unvoiced. Voiced sounds are produced when the vocal cords vibrate, while unvoiced sounds are produced when the vocal cords do not vibrate.

In general, Japanese words are pronounced with an unvoiced sound. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. Some words are pronounced with a voiced sound, even though they do not contain any voiced consonants.

There are several reasons why some Japanese words are pronounced with a voiced sound. One reason is that the word may have been borrowed from another language. For example, the word "camera" is pronounced with a voiced "r" sound because it was borrowed from the English word "camera".

Another reason why a Japanese word may be pronounced with a voiced sound is that it may have undergone a sound change over time. For example, the word "sushi" was originally pronounced with an unvoiced "s" sound. However, over time, the "s" sound became voiced, and the word is now pronounced with a voiced "z" sound.

Finally, some Japanese words are pronounced with a voiced sound simply because they are part of a certain grammatical pattern. For example, adjectives that end in the suffix "-i" are always pronounced with a voiced "i" sound.

Here are some examples of Japanese words that are pronounced with a voiced sound:
カメラ (camera)
寿司 (sushi)
赤い (red)
青い (blue)
黄色い (yellow)

If you are unsure of how to pronounce a particular Japanese word, you can always consult a dictionary or online resource.

2025-01-03

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