Abstract
- Concerning the pronunciation of the number “0” in Japanese, 96% of respondents reported using “zero” in “Seikō no kakuritsu wa 0%” (the probability of success is 0%). Meanwhile, 68% reported using “rē” in “kōsui kakuritsu wa 0% desu” (the precipitation probability is 0%). In the case of “Tesuto wa “0” ten deshita” (I got a score of zero on my test), 85% indicated they pronounce “0” as “rē.”
- Regarding the difference in the connotation between “zero” and “rē,” dictionaries define “zero” as “the state of having absolutely nothing,” among other meanings. The results presented above imply that “zero” expresses a more pronounced nuance of “nothingness” compared with “rē.”
- When presented with the example “Seikō no kakuritsu wa 0%” and asked about the nuance they perceived, 64% stated that “zero” percent appears to emphasize the complete absence of possibility more than “rē” percent does.
- With respect to the pronunciation of “3.4 nin” (3.4 persons), an overwhelming 85% supported “san ten yo nin.” Meanwhile, for “3.9 nin” (3.9 persons), “san ten kyū nin” had more supporters, with 43% stating that “san ten ku nin” sounds “unnatural.”
- For “39 nichi” (39 days) and “220 nichi” (220 days), the pronunciations “sanjū ku nichi” and “nihyaku nijū nichi” were preferred, respectively.
