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practice of ignoring the natural distinction[1] between them.
The contracted syllables usually. spelled ja, jo, ju, are pronounced dzya, dzyo, dzyu.
The R in the syllable ri, the pronunciation of which varies so much in different parts of Japan, is in most words absolutely silent, thus two rios is ni’iyô.
The diphthong ai, especially in the word nai, is commonly pronounced éi, thus wakaranéi.
With regard to the sounds of the consonants, the impure nasal n before the g, which is a characteristic of the Tôkiô pronunciation, is intensified in Yonézawa, where the dialect delights in inserting this same n before d, z, and j; and its equivalent m before b. Thus I have heard ‘a spoon’ (saji) called sandzi, which, as the Governor at that time happened to be a ‘Sanji,’ was slightly confusing. With many persons the insertion of this n or m seems to be the only mode of marking the distinction between the sharp and flat mutes; k, t, p, except when doubled, commonly taking the sounds of g, d, b, while the genuine g, d, b, become ng, nd, mb,[2] as wadagusi, iyanda, ambunai. Iku (to go) appears to be an exception; it is always pronounced ingu.
(3).—Of the words used in a sense totally different to that which they bear in Tôkiô, the list that I have been able to collect is not a long one; but being all words in common use they are intensely bewildering to one unsuspicious of their local meaning. Thus soon after my arrival I remember feeling no little astonishment at hearing a fine powerful looking young fellow, who had been pointed out to me as having distinguished himself in the war, decline a challenge to box with the words kowaküte sarenaish’! It was not till some time afterwards that I
- ↑ It is stated that the distinction is observed at Kiôto, as well as all ever Kiushiu; it is certainly marked in Satsuma where the initial sound of ヂ is that of the French J, ヅ retaining that of the English.
- ↑ This observation must be borne in mind in pronouncing the local words given in a subsequent paragraph, since to avoid confusion the spelling does not imitate the pronunciation, but except in contractions allows the kana.
