If you have seen the previous course, you have now mastered all the rules of katakanization. However, you should be able to take this course. If this is not the case and revisions are necessary, do not hesitate to go back to refresh your memory.
When we write a proper foreign name with first and last name, we will put a dot between the two like this :
First name・Last Name
In Japanese, we call this point the 中点 . なかテン. This point is located halfway up to indicate the separation between first and last name.
For example, if we want to write « Harry Potter », we’ll write like this :
ハリー・ポッター
We lengthen the [i] of « Harry » and the [ə] of « Potter », because in English the [ə] is phonetically very close to the sound [a]. Remember that in Japanese, we have to respect the original pronunciation.
Now if you want to write « Tom Cruise », we’ll write like this :
トム・クルーズ
The first name « Tom » is written « トム » and the last name « Cruise » is written « クルーズ ». We decompose the « Cr » into « クル » and lengthen the sound [u]. The letter « i » [i] is not pronounced, so we ignore it.
Now, if we want to write « Dany Boon », a very French first name (except the family name), we’ll write it :
ダニー・ブーン
Nothing complicated here. We lengthen the sound [i] of « Dany », we lengthen the [u] of « Boon ». And since the family name ends in an « n » on its own, and we have the Japanese equivalent, we transcribe it « ン ».
Another example, if we want to write « Daniel Radcliffe », we will write it :
ダニエル・ラドクリフ
For the first name « Daniel », no worries, it is written in katakana as it is pronounced. As the « l » in consonant alone does not exist in Japanese, we write it « ル ». We decompose the « d » from « Radcliffe » into « ド » and the « cli » into « クリ ».
A final example, if we want to write « Jean Dujardin », we will write it :
ジャン・デュジャルダン
Here, a little reminder of the previous course. Remember that the sound « in » [ɛ̃] does not exist in Japanese and is transcribed アン. So here in « Dujardin », the sound [dɛ̃] is written ダン.
Sometimes we have surnames with small determinants like « Charles de Montesquieu », « Brian De Palma » or « Miguel de Cervantes » :
Charles de Montesquieu : シャルル・ド・モンテスキュー
Brian De Palma : ブライアン・デ・パルマ
Miguel de Cervantes : ミゲル・デ・セルバンテス
Here we have a little something special. « Charles de Montesquieu » is a French name, so the sound « eu » [ø] of the determinant « de » will be transcribed ド in Japanese because the Japanese cannot pronounce the sound « eu » [ø]. « De Palma » is a surname of Italian origin, so the « De » is pronounced like in Italian : [de]. Finally, the name « Miguel de Cervantes » is typically Spanish, the « l » of « Miguel » and the « r » of « Cervantes » are transcribed in « ル », the « s » of « Cervantes » is transcribed into « ス », the « de » is also pronounced like in Italian (or Spanish if you prefer).
These three examples clearly show that we must take into account the pronunciation of the surname according to the phonetics of the country of origin.
And when we have a composed first name, we put the sign =. It may sound weird, but that’s how the Japanese decided.
So if we want to write Jean-Jacques Rousseau, we will write :
ジャン=ジャック・ルソー
Note that the sign = is present to signify that the first name, in its original language, is in two parts but that it is indeed the first name.
With all that, you now know how to transcribe foreign first and last names in Japanese. However, I would like to insist on returning to what has already been said in the previous course. Do not rely on writing to katakanize a foreign name. You must remain as faithful as possible to the original pronunciation.
To give you a good example to illustrate my point, I show you below a very French first name which will remind you of a king of France for those who know a little History.
Again, to give you an example, let’s take the first name « François » [frɑ̃nçwa].
If we katakanize it like this : François → フランソイス
This is not correct. Phonetically, it doesn’t look like the first name « François » [frɑ̃nçwa].
The correct transcription is : François → フランソワ
Another first name : Nicolas.
If we katakanize it like this : Nicolas → ニコラス
This is wrong. Phonetically, the final « s » is not pronounced.
The correct transcription is : Nicolas → ニコラ
Quite simply ! If your name is « François » or « Nicolas », at least, your name is already katakanized. However, practice transcribing other first names into katakana. There is plenty to do.
Now (yes, it’s almost finished!), how are we going to katakanize foreign names having (with a few letters) the same spelling but which are pronounced differently depending on the language from which they originate ? Again, we have to base ourselves on phonetics and not on spelling.
As an example, let’s take the first name « Caroline » :
EN : Caroline → カロライナ
In English, the letter « i » is pronounced [ill].
FR : Caroline → カロリーヌ
In French, the letter « i » is pronounced [i].
As an example, let’s take the first name « Jacob » :
EN : Jacob → ジェイコブ
In English, the letter « a » is pronounced [aɪ].
FR : Jacob → ジャコブ
In French, the letter « a » is pronounced [a].
This time, let’s take two first names from two Western languages but which are very similar, Amélie in French and Amelia in Spanish :
FR : Amélie → アメリ
In French, the letter « l » does not exist in Japanese, the sound [li] is replaced by リ.
ES : Amelia → アメリア
Same thing. In Spanish, the letter « l » does not exist in Japanese, the sound [li] is replaced by リ. And we add the ア at the end.
Now, let’s take three first names from three Western languages but which are very similar, Anthony in English, Antonie in Romanian, Antoine in French and Antonio in Spanish :
EN : Anthony → アンソニー
RO : Antonie → アントニー
FR : Antoine → アントワーヌ
ES : Antonio → アントニオ
So be careful. Just because you see such names written in (almost) the same way in roman letters does not mean that they will be katakanized in the same way. If the first name was katakanized from an English pronunciation, it will not be the same for the same first name in Romanian, French or Spanish.
That’s all for this course !
It is time that I leave you with your exercises. You will first have to write foreign proper names in katakana, paying close attention to the country of origin. As we have seen, if a given name has been katakanized from an English or Spanish pronunciation, it will not be the same as a French or Russian pronunciation. In the second exercise, you will have the opposite diagram: I give you proper names in katakana and you must find the corresponding proper names. Finally, you write your own first and last name.
With that, we still have a course to see on katakana. We will study the new combinations of katakana in order to pronounce new sounds, which will give me the opportunity to show you an example of some additional foreign names and surnames, using these new combinations.
This course is now over, thank you for reading. Continue to be diligent in your work and you will make progress, I guarantee it.
I wish you to revise your course well and see you next time.
Introduction