Shitajiki question

[dreamingxashley]

Edit: pic was removed since answer was given.

I was wondering why the vowels were repeated on the shitajiki? The ones circled in red are the ones Im referring too. Also the e vowel in Kataka (above the o/wo kana) seems to be different? as does the i vowel in Katakana below the wa kana. Can someone explain these for me?

[Spaztick]

The ones that look different are the older vowels that are no longer in use after WWII (wi and we). The wi and we was just replaced with the i and e, so I think it's there just as a reference to older Japanese books.

[dreamingxashley]

aha! Ok, I thought maybe the Katakana were old letters, but wasnt sure.

And I did XD at your sig, so you should add me.

[Mukade]

dreamingxashley wrote:
aha! Ok, I thought maybe the Katakana were old letters, but wasnt sure.

Yes, hiragana and katakana were developed during the 7th century AD. They were created by Buddhist monks who found they were having a hard time taking notes during sermons because it takes so long to write kanji. So they just created a "short-hand" form of the characters that could be written much quicker.

[dreamingxashley]

Thats not what I meant, but thanks for the interesting history lesson. I meant, I had thought that the Katakana that I was wondering about (the ones circled) were older, no longer used kana, but wasnt sure... I hope I said that right this time. ^^;

Thanks again!

[dreamingxashley]

One more question about this... what is the word that I have circled in the pic below? I know that the top two Kanji, if by themselves would be the number 15... but they arent. heh

Edit: pic was removed since answer was given.

[kaoru117]

dreamingxashley wrote:
One more question about this... what is the word that I have circled in the pic below? I know that the top two Kanji, if by themselves would be the number 15... but they arent. heh

Wouldn't the first 2 characters alone be 50(go-ju), not 15(Ju-go).

[Spaztick]

五?#92;音 - gojyuuoto - it means 50 sounds

(btw it goes for fiteeen 10 +5, 5 + 10, which is what's above, is 50).

[dreamingxashley]

Ok, thanks again. Yeah I goofed, I was thinking 5 kanji + 10 kanji = 15... obviously.

[dreamingxashley]

http://www.thejapanshop.net/gifts/shita1.htm

At some point I plan on buying this, just because it looks nicer than the one I made on cardboard. hehe.

[Spaztick]

ah, ok that makes sense. I was wondering "where in the world did 50 sounds come from?"

[Mukade]

Spaztick wrote:
ah, ok that makes sense. I was wondering "where in the world did 50 sounds come from?"

"50 Sounds" is the name of the Japanese alphabet (or syllabary) in Japanese.

[Spaztick]

Interesting.