XPost: rec.arts.anime.misc   
   From: mungkb@vt.edu   
      
   Ansgar -59cobalt- Wiechers wrote:   
   > In rec.arts.anime.misc Phil  wrote:   
      
   >> I know from the Japanese standpoint, it's just romaji - using Roman   
   >> characters to transliterate Japanese.  The 'official' system is   
   >> (Shin-)kunreishiki which corresponds to the Japanese syllabary but is   
   >> not always phonetic.   
   >   
   > Both romanization systems are known here, but I believe Hepburn is the   
   > most commonly used one, because it's a transcription system rather   
   > than a mere transliteration system like Kunrei.   
      
   How are those different?   
      
   >> Many people, however, use modified Hepburn which is much more   
   >> phonetic (from an English speaker's standpoint) but doesn't match up   
   >> as well to the Japanese syllable table.  The Hepburn system was   
   >> designed by an English speaker.  Kunreishiki was designed from the   
   >> perspective of Japanese speakers and thus should be apply equally to   
   >> English and German speakers.   
   >>   
   >> Despite its 'official' status and being taught in schools, the   
   >> government of Japan still uses Hepburn for place names, train, and   
   >> road signs.  Most people would not recognize Mount Fuji in   
   >> kunreishiki - Mount Huzi.   
   >   
   > That's the problem with transliteration systems: they don't   
   > necessarily take pronounciation into account. Which is why I prefer   
   > Hepburn. There are some phonetic mismatches WRT german language, but   
   > all in all it's far better readable than Kunrei, especially if you   
   > have some prior knowledge in English (which is true for most Germans).   
      
   I should hope so, considering our language is a derivative our German.   
      
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