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For the sake of Haiku or in general, how are syllables counted in Japanese?

Specifically, in the following cases, how are syllables counted?

  * かあ, long vowels - two syllables?
  * きゅ, addition of yō-on - still one syllable?
  * ポッキー, addition sokuon - small tsu counts as a syllable?
  * ん ?
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2019-06-17T17:43:47.000
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2019-07-03T18:29:17.643
2019-07-03T18:29:17.643
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question
pronunciation kana haiku morae
What constitutes a syllable?
Note that in Japanese poetry, there is a marked avoidance of moraic ん as well
as Sino-Japanese lexicon and onbin, so the question is often irrelevant as all
the syllables occurring are of form CV. However, if required, きょ would be
still one syllable (strictly saying, mora), while じゃく or った be two.
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2019-06-17T17:56:35.630
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2019-06-17T17:56:35.630
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answer
The general method of counting in Japanese poetry is by a rhythmic unit known
as the mora (morae or moras in plural). A mora is (essentially) the length of
a single (full-sized) kana; so is a bit different from a syllable.

For instance:

> A long vowel is counted as one syllable, but two moras. e.g. えい is a single
> syllable, but is two moras.
>
> ん is counted as a single mora. 関係：かんけい is two syllables, but four moras.
>
> Yō-on take up one mora in all, because the sound is contracted into one
> rhythmic unit.
>
> Sokuon count as an extra mora. e.g. 一杯：いっぱい is two syllables, but four moras
> い っ ぱ い

Thus, applying those rules to your examples:

> かあ : two moras
>
> きゅ : one mora
>
> ポッキー : four moras
>
> ん : one mora

Hope that helps!
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2019-06-17T18:10:45.680
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2019-06-17T18:19:03.877
2020-06-17T08:18:27.500
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