Katakana

Remember what i said about Katakana being for borrowed words? Well there are certain words that can be translated into Japanese if you know the way. Lets say you want to translate Ice cream into Japanese, you cant just rewrite it and say it is done. With the exception of N and O, most Katakana and Hiragana are a consonant and a vowel. SO Ice cream would look like this in romanji: Aisu Kurimu. Pronounced: AISOO KOOREEMOO. Now, look at the chart below. On your own paper I want you to match this romanji with the Katakana and translate Ice Cream three times.

Now scroll down and see if ours matches....






























Did you get it right? Even if you didn't it's ok. It takes lots of practice to get it right.

For a little more of a Challenge, lets try another word. Now, even though Ice cream translated pretty smoothly, not all words are like that. Lets take Camping for example. Many times, "M" is translated into "N" in Katakana so it could be Kanpingu, but instead it is said Kanpu. Pronounced Kahnpoo.

Another example is Video Games. Now, this word is changed to sound more like Television game. The Romanji is Terebi Gemu (there is no "L" in Japanese either). Pronounced Tehrehbee Gehmoo. Remember how hiragana had Tentens to make G,D,Z,J, and P sounds? it is the same for Katakana. So we are going to translate Video Game into Katakana. So the Romanji is TerebiGemu. There are two Katakanas that have Tentens. the "bi" and the "ge". As a hint, "H" sounds with the two dashes make "B" sounds. "K" sounds with the two dashes make "G" sounds.

Now, I know this is alot of exeptions but there is one more. Since "game" has a long sounding "a" in it we are going to add a - after the "ge". This will make it sound longer because you hold the letter longer when there is a -.

I know this is alot but again, once you practice this it will become much easier.
So, let's try this on your paper, looking at the chart and using the hints I gave you. You might not get this right but remember, Katakana is one of those alphabets that even students who have taken the class for years, still have a hard time with.
So on your own paper write Terebigemu three times then scroll down to check with my answers....












































So how did it go? Good? Bad? Horrible? All of these are ok at this point. Keep practicing words. On your own paper I want you to try and Translate your name. Remember to add vowels when necisarry. If your name is JARED it would look like JEREDO, pronounced JEHREHDOH. If it is LINDSAY it would look like RINSE, pronounced REENSEH. Just try, even if it doesn not look or sound right, the expirament can only help you understand Katakana better.