Today's lesson in Japanese Romanization, brought to you by the King of Fighters Singers!
BENIMARU: Okay! In case you don't know what romanization is, that's when you write Japanese characters phonetically, using the roman alphabet. Remember, everyone, that even though you pronounce Shingo's name "Shingo," there are two romanization methods to use! The method most common in the West, used by the majority of textbooks and books intended for English speakers, is to spell "shi" the way it's pronounced. However, in the alternative, older romanization method still frequently used in Japan, they spell it "si" even though it's pronounced "shi." There is no "si" sound in Japanese; even when you see "si" you still pronounce it "shi." That means you might see Yabuki's first name written as "Singo." And now an instructional song to help you remember this neat fact!
Remember to clap your hands when you see the * mark! Aight, take it away, Shingo-kun!
[To the tune of "Bingo"]
SHINGO: There was a guy who wanted flame, and Shingo was his name-o!
S-I-N-G-O! S-I-N-G-O! S-I-N-G-O! And Shingo was his name-o!
KYO: I have this student with no shame, and Shingo is his name-o!
S-I-N-G-*! S-I-N-G-*! S-I-N-G-*! and Shingo is his name-o!
SHINGO: Hey, Kusanagi-san... ;_;
BENIMARU: Kyo has a stalker, he's insane, and Shingo is his name-o!
S-I-N-*-*! S-I-N-*-*! S-I-N-*-*! And Shingo is his name-o!
SHINGO: Ni... Nikaido-san! ;_; How cruel!
ATHENA: There was a fanboy, he was lame, and Kensou was his name-o!
KENSOU: It's SHINGO, not me! _ Geez!
ATHENA: Oh... right. I forgot. [giggles] Sorry.
There was a fanboy, he was lame, and Shingo was his name-o!
S-I-*-*-*! S-I-*-*-*! S-I-*-*-*! And Shingo was his name-o!
SHINGO: [sniffle] ;_;
IORI: Kyo has a friend that I will maim, and Shingo is his name-o!
S-*-*-*-*! S-*-*-*-*! S-*-*-*-*! and Shingo is his name-o!
SHINGO: @_@ Ku... Kusanagi-san! PROTECT ME! Don't let the evil orochi man kill me!
KYO: [pats Shingo on the head] There there, calm down, he's probably just joking. Probably.
SAISYU: Check out my name's spelling too, kids! The other, more phonetic romanization would be "Saishu." [Clears throat.]
My son's pupil has no brain, and Shingo is his name-o!
*-*-*-*-*! *-*-*-*-*! *-*-*-*-*! and Shingo is his name-o!
ALL: Aaaaaaand Shiiinnnnnngo was his naaaaaaame-o!
[Shingo is weeping in a corner.]
BENIMARU: Well, I hope this was instructional! Do yu undaastand? Sankyu!
--FIN--
BENIMARU: Okay! In case you don't know what romanization is, that's when you write Japanese characters phonetically, using the roman alphabet. Remember, everyone, that even though you pronounce Shingo's name "Shingo," there are two romanization methods to use! The method most common in the West, used by the majority of textbooks and books intended for English speakers, is to spell "shi" the way it's pronounced. However, in the alternative, older romanization method still frequently used in Japan, they spell it "si" even though it's pronounced "shi." There is no "si" sound in Japanese; even when you see "si" you still pronounce it "shi." That means you might see Yabuki's first name written as "Singo." And now an instructional song to help you remember this neat fact!
Remember to clap your hands when you see the * mark! Aight, take it away, Shingo-kun!
[To the tune of "Bingo"]
SHINGO: There was a guy who wanted flame, and Shingo was his name-o!
S-I-N-G-O! S-I-N-G-O! S-I-N-G-O! And Shingo was his name-o!
KYO: I have this student with no shame, and Shingo is his name-o!
S-I-N-G-*! S-I-N-G-*! S-I-N-G-*! and Shingo is his name-o!
SHINGO: Hey, Kusanagi-san... ;_;
BENIMARU: Kyo has a stalker, he's insane, and Shingo is his name-o!
S-I-N-*-*! S-I-N-*-*! S-I-N-*-*! And Shingo is his name-o!
SHINGO: Ni... Nikaido-san! ;_; How cruel!
ATHENA: There was a fanboy, he was lame, and Kensou was his name-o!
KENSOU: It's SHINGO, not me! _ Geez!
ATHENA: Oh... right. I forgot. [giggles] Sorry.
There was a fanboy, he was lame, and Shingo was his name-o!
S-I-*-*-*! S-I-*-*-*! S-I-*-*-*! And Shingo was his name-o!
SHINGO: [sniffle] ;_;
IORI: Kyo has a friend that I will maim, and Shingo is his name-o!
S-*-*-*-*! S-*-*-*-*! S-*-*-*-*! and Shingo is his name-o!
SHINGO: @_@ Ku... Kusanagi-san! PROTECT ME! Don't let the evil orochi man kill me!
KYO: [pats Shingo on the head] There there, calm down, he's probably just joking. Probably.
SAISYU: Check out my name's spelling too, kids! The other, more phonetic romanization would be "Saishu." [Clears throat.]
My son's pupil has no brain, and Shingo is his name-o!
*-*-*-*-*! *-*-*-*-*! *-*-*-*-*! and Shingo is his name-o!
ALL: Aaaaaaand Shiiinnnnnngo was his naaaaaaame-o!
[Shingo is weeping in a corner.]
BENIMARU: Well, I hope this was instructional! Do yu undaastand? Sankyu!
--FIN--