* * * * * Prologue to the Reader _With Some Advice on the Correct Pronunciation of the Japanese Language_ Long ago, at the beginning of the establishment of our orthodox faith in the Japanese kingdom, a grammar of this language was made by Father Ioannus Rodriguez of the Society of Jesus.[42] However, since things rarely turn out perfect at first attempt, and, because of the passing years that have made it difficult to find a copy of this grammar; I thought that it would honor God and the ministers who preach the faith (which cannot be taught without the use of language) if I were to select examples (and there are many) that are useful to this language, neglect those not accepted by the experts of the language, add, with the help of God (who gives words to the evangelists), the words that I have learned from experience, practice, and continuous reading, and by such means offer up a handbook of the Japanese language in which I would bring together in a brief span these examples with those precepts which the preachers (for whom I began this work) need to learn of the Japanese language. This is done because examples are necessary with the rules and precepts so that it is possible to demonstrate the rule which has just been explained. Not only have these examples been selected for the greater help and enjoyment of the students, but also their explanation has been added in Latin (which is the language most common to theologians); thus the teacher will have very little left to be desired. Even if all the elements included in this grammar, as in the dictionary (which with the help of God I plan to publish shortly),[43] are polished enough and sure enough to be used with trust; I would still want them to be submitted to the judgement of the reader so that the preaching of the faith, carried on with a more correct language, may become more fruitful. When two vowels follow each other in any Japanese word, they are not pronounced as in the Latin word _valeo_ or in the Spanish, _vaca_, but each is pronounced independently; _v_, _a_; _v_, _o_; _v_, _i_. {108} The letter _s_ is pronounced as _sç_; e.g., _susumuru_, _sçusçumuru_. The letter _j_ is pronounced smoothly (_blande_), as in the Portuguese _joaõ_ and _judeo_. The letter _x_ is also pronounced smoothly, as in the Portuguese (4 _queixumes_. When there is the sign ˆ over the letter _o_ it is pronounced _ou_ with the lips almost closed and the mouth partly closed; e.g., _buppô_. When there is the sign ˇ or ´ over the letter _o_ it is pronounced with the mouth open as if there were two letters, _oo_; e.g., _tenxó_ or _gacuxǒ_.[44] If the signs we have just shown are over the letter _u_, it is pronounced long as if there were two letters, _uu_; e.g., _taifú_ or _aiaǔ_. When the sign ˜ is over the vowel, the sign should be pronounced like an _n_, not strongly but swiftly (_cursim_) and softly (_leniter_); e.g., _vãga_.[45]