Spelling and accentuation are treated in the following manner: 1. The _ſ_ in all instances is represented by _s_. 2. The usage of _v_ and _u_ has been regularized: the _v_ serves as the consonant; and _u_ as the vowel, semi-vowel, and orthographic symbol; e.g., _vaga_, _uie_, _quan_, and _agueta_. 3. The predictable nasalization--marked by a tilde in the text--has not been included in the translation unless the presence of nasalization is morphologically significant; e.g., _tobu:tõda_. {30} 4. The accent grave--which appears in no discernible pattern--is not transcribed in the translation. 5. The accent acute is used in the translation to mark the long _ú_ [u:] and the long, open _ó_ [[IPA: Open-mid back rounded vowel]:], in those places where the length is marked by Collado. Since the most frequent typographical error in the text is the failure to mark the presence of these long syllables, I follow the convention of correcting the absence of this feature in the Latin text by using the inverted caret in the translation. Thus, the appearance in the translation of _mósu_ indicates that Collado recorded the length of this word, either by an accent acute (e.g., _mósu_), or an inverted caret (e.g., _mǒsu_). The appearance of _mǒsu_ indicates that he did not, and that its absence is being corrected. The form _mǒsu_ in the translation is therefore the shorthand equivalent for what would more regularly be _mosu_ [_mósu_]. 6. The circumflex, which indicates the long, closed _ô_ [o:], is corrected as other errors by placing the corrected version of the item in brackets; e.g., _roppio_ [_roppiô_]. * * * * * ARS GRAMMATICAE IAPONICAE LINGVAE IN GRATIAM ET ADIVTORIVM eorum, qui prædicandi Euangelij causa ad Iaponiæ Regnum se voluerint conferre. _Composita, & Sacræ de Propaganda Fide Congregationi dicata à Fr. Didaco Collado Ordinis Prædicatorum per aliquot annos in prædicto Regno Fidei Catholicæ propagationis Ministro._ [Illustration] ROMÆ, Typis & impensis Sac. Congr. de Propag. Fide. MDCXXXII. _SVPERIORVM PERMISSV_. {105} * * * * * A Grammar of the Japanese Language FOR THE SAKE AND HELP of those who wish to go to the Kingdom of Japan to preach the Gospel. Composed and dedicated to the Blessed Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith by Brother Didico Collado, O.P., who was for many years in that Kingdom as a Minister for the Propagation of the Catholic Faith. [Illustration] Printed by the Blessed Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith. 1632 BY PERMISSION OF THE SUPERIORS. {106} * * * * * It may be published if it please the Most Reverend Father, Master of the Holy Apostolic Palace. For the Archbishop of Umbria. The Vicar General. It may be published. Brother Nicolaus Riccardius, Master of the Holy Apostolic Palace, Order of Preachers. {107}