Sega's Katakana guide...

[Commander Marklar]

Hey folks...

Someone check this for me...

http://64.95.120.131/community/features/katakana101_04.jhtml

...Original. Looking at the charts, the symbol is 'du' and not 'ji' as the kana says. I've had a look at some other charts too and they're the same so it looks like the example is wrong, no?

edit: some exceptions from their guide...

T + U = tsu, not tu
T + I = chi, not ti
S + I = shi, not si
Z + I = ji, not zi
D + I = ji, not di
D + U = zu, not du

... so even then, it still isn't 'ji'

[saif]

the dashed form of "shi" is ji.
"tsu" and "shi" in katakana form are difficult to differentiate. They are just slightly different angles.

It IS correct though

[Commander Marklar]

Ah, OK - so it isn't zu at all but ZI in the chart... D'OH!

I can see the difference now, cheers saif! 8)

[Supergoal]

you can also type out Japanese with a keyboard using any of the above. Somehow my brain is stuck with doing the longer type versions which my wife always nags me about

[Sketcz]

the dashed form of "shi" is ji.
"tsu" and "shi" in katakana form are difficult to differentiate. They are just slightly different angles.

It IS correct though

I find theyre easy.
Shi has the hook at the bottom, tsu has the hook at the top. If you cant see the hook, youre typing font is too blurry, and if its handwritten, then the dude writing it didnt "draw" the hook correctly.

At first glance they may seem similar, but there is strong hook positional contrast.

Seasons greetings

EDIT:
WTF!?!
Sega, a games development company are encouraging importing by having a katakana chart on their site? Or am I mistaken?
Is that an officially endorsed sega site? I thought all Japanese games companies loathed importing and importers in equally strong measure.
Well, will wonders never cease.
Dont expect nintendo to put up a "How to use freeloader" page anytime soon.

[Commander Marklar]

Aye otaku84, it's been covered before - it is from Sega's site, I just posted the IP 'cos of work blocking www.sega.com; replace the IP address and you'll see

Regarding those symbols though, I reckon the one looks like it is sitting up more than the other. Still doesn't stop me getting the two confused!

I knocked *this* out yesterday during some free time to help me visualise the English too, don?t know if anybody else will find that useful Note the "Lookup" doesn't do anything, 'cos it is meant to be run locally where it goes back to a database and pulls the English equivalent (e.g. sonikku->sonic, etc...)

[Sketcz]

Aye otaku84, it's been covered before - it is from Sega's site, I just posted the IP 'cos of work blocking www.sega.com; replace the IP address and you'll see

Regarding those symbols though, I reckon the one looks like it is sitting up more than the other. Still doesn't stop me getting the two confused!

I knocked *this* out yesterday during some free time to help me visualise the English too, don’t know if anybody else will find that useful Note the "Lookup" doesn't do anything, 'cos it is meant to be run locally where it goes back to a database and pulls the English equivalent (e.g. sonikku->sonic, etc...)

My god, sega helping people to import....
I dont know wether to fall over in shock, or dance around... I might do neither.

Ive got a scanned caligraphy sheet with katakana on it, showing the big difference between tsu and shi, would you like me to email it?

If you use a traditional brush pen, because you start and end at different points, you get a considerable tail-hook at either the top or bottom.
This sadly gets lost when using word processors.

Same goes for "n" and "so", "so" has a big hook at the base, and n has a hook at the top.

anyway, let me again just say, wow.... Sega officially giving translation tips for import gamers. They seem to really understand a gamers needs...
Suddenly I like the company even more.

[JU!]

As i have just learned Katakana, I to find it hard to tell the difference between these two symbols.

[Blu3Flame]

I knocked *this* out yesterday during some free time to help me visualise the English too, don?t know if anybody else will find that useful Note the "Lookup" doesn't do anything, 'cos it is meant to be run locally where it goes back to a database and pulls the English equivalent (e.g. sonikku->sonic, etc...)

Thanks for that, your site will come in very handy for me.

[Commander Marklar]

Ive got a scanned caligraphy sheet with katakana on it, showing the big difference between tsu and shi, would you like me to email it?

Aye man, that'd be cool -- any information is appreciated. You can mail me at commander (dot) marklar (at) ntlworld (dot) com 8)

Blu3Flame -- cheers for that. I think I'll also make it so the selected symbols write to the screen somewhere too. Not only will you be able to see the "English" but also the word you're typing in katakana, making it that little bit more visual. I've used it loads, so I'm kinda glad someone else can make use of it