In traditional Japanese words, this writing convention (i.e., using a kana equivalent of tu to signify consonant lengthening) occurs only in combination with the following syllables beginning with p-, t-, s-, and k-; but in words recently borrowed from foreign languages, it occurs both with these and with following syllables having initial b-, d- (Syllables with initial d- are da, de, and do only), z , and g-. Note that the occurrence of the latter group is characteristic of a more innovative variety of Japanese. For example, the English word 'bed' borrowed into Japanese occurs both as betto and beddo, the first being more traditional and the second more innovative.
A long consonant kk, gg, tt, dd, pp, or bb, in a Japanese loanword often represents the corresponding English consonant when it occurs at the end of a word or syllable following a simple vowel as opposed to a diphthong (for example, 'let' as opposed to 'late'). The simple vowels are represented as short vowels in Japanese, whereas diphthongs are usually represented as long vowels or vowel sequences. Compare:
ネット
ヒット
スモック
ルック | netto
hitto
sumokku
rukku | 'net'
'hit'
'smock'
'look' | and
or
and
and
and | ネート
ネイト
ヒート
スモーク
ルーク | neeto
neito
hiito
sumooku
ruuku |
'Nate'
'heat'
'smoke'
'Luke' |
|
