Translation guide
The patterns of rhythm, stress, and intonation in speech. In Japanese, prosody is expressed through pitch accent, mora timing, and intonation patterns rather than stress. This guide covers how to talk about prosody as a linguistic concept and how to describe its features.
Referring to prosody as a linguistic field or the overall suprasegmental features of a language.
The standard linguistic term for prosody, covering rhythm, meter, and intonation in poetry and speech.
日本語の韻律はピッチアクセントに基づいている。
Japanese prosody is based on pitch accent.
Prosodic features; used when discussing specific aspects like intonation, stress, or rhythm.
韻律的特徴にはイントネーションやリズムが含まれる。
Prosodic features include intonation and rhythm.
Loanword from English, used in linguistics contexts. Less common than 韻律 but understood in academic settings.
プロソディーの研究は音声学の重要な分野だ。
The study of prosody is an important field of phonetics.
Describing the natural melody, rhythm, or flow of speech, often in language learning or performance.
Intonation or modulation of voice; the rise and fall of pitch in speech. Commonly used in everyday contexts.
彼の話し方には抑揚があまりない。
His speech lacks much intonation.
Rhythm; often used together with 抑揚 to describe the overall prosodic quality.
The tone or manner of speaking; a more general phrase that can encompass prosodic elements.
話し方の調子で感情が伝わる。
Emotions are conveyed through the tone of speech.
Referring to the patterns of stressed and unstressed syllables in poetry.
Also used for poetic meter. In Japanese poetry, it refers to the 5-7-5 syllable pattern in haiku or the 5-7-5-7-7 pattern in tanka.
俳句は五七五の韻律を持つ。
Haiku has a 5-7-5 meter.
Poetic rhythm; a more accessible term for non-specialists.
この詩のリズムはとても心地よい。
The rhythm of this poem is very pleasant.
韻律 is the formal linguistic term for prosody, covering both speech and poetry. 抑揚 specifically refers to pitch modulation (intonation), while リズム is rhythm. In everyday conversation about speech, 抑揚 and リズム are more common than 韻律.
Unlike English stress, Japanese uses pitch accent (高低アクセント). When discussing Japanese prosody, it's helpful to mention ピッチアクセント or 高低アクセント.
I want to acquire natural Japanese rhythm and intonation.