I would assume that you spend a fair amount of time studying Japanese grammar, how to read and write Hiragana, Katakana, Kanji and working on your listening and speaking skills. But how much time do you spend on your Japanese pronunciation? Most likely far less time on your pronunciation. Probably pronunciation comes to the bottom of your to-work-on list because you don't get tested on pronunciation, or your Japanese teacher is a non-native Japanese speaker and such.

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I have seen a number of Japanese learners over the years both in Japan and overseas, and some of them speak with perfect or near-perfect grammar. However, I have rarely seen anyone with perfect or near-perfect pronunciation, and this always puzzled me, especially as I have heard some Japanese learners saying that Japanese pronunciation is relatively easy compared to other languages. As a voice-over artist and long time avid English learner myself, I have a fine-tuned ear and I admit that I tend to pick up on the pronunciation mistakes that Japanese learners make more than others. However, I would like to stress that I am a firm believer that learning a language is not just to make yourself understood. With good pronunciation/intonation, you will have smoother and deeper communication. Suppose you are a tourist in another country asking for directions, then making yourself understood is good enough. However, if you are a student in another country or are there for business, only making yourself understood might get you through, but the chances are that communication may be interrupted or patchy, and some guessing required for the listener. With improved pronunciation/intonation, your message is comprehended more directly, and you will establish a better friendship or working relationship with the other person.

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There are two main reasons why Japanese learners do not speak with the correct pronunciation. One is that Japanese pronunciation, or to be more precise, Japanese pitch-accent, is difficult to acquire. The Japanese language has its own unique rhythm and accent patterns that are very different from other languages, including English. Even some native Japanese speakers make mistakes without realizing it. I would often need to check my own pitch accent when I read a script for my voice-over work. If the pitch-accent is difficult even for native speakers, then yes, it is even more so for foreigners.

 

The second reason is that Japanese learners do not spend enough time working on their pronunciation. How often does your Japanese teacher or your conversation partner correct your pronunciation mistakes, as compared to them correcting your grammatical mistakes? Please don't get me wrong, I know you do not want to be stopped every time you sound a word wrong when you are working on your speaking skills. Therefore to improve your pronunciation skills, you need to make a special time just for that purpose. As you spend more time on your pronunciation, your ear will gradually start to learn to pick up the subtle differences in pitch. You will start to listen differently to the way that native Japanese people speak.

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There is no silver bullet for perfect pronunciation in any language. It takes effort and perseverance, but every little step you make will go a long way and I guarantee that your language learning journey will be more enjoyable and rewarding if you emphasize all areas including your pronunciation. 

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Please contact me if you are interested in my pronunciation lessons. I am looking forward to being a part of your language learning journey!

                                                                                     - Miki

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