Double vowels.

[She-Lich]

My book didn't do a good job of explaining how to pronounce double vowels. I've realized how important this is with words like 'grandmother' and 'aunt' which are basically the same except one has two of the same vowel. How do you pronounce words that use double vowels?  

[Meriru]

She-Lich

My book didn't do a good job of explaining how to pronounce double vowels. I've realized how important this is with words like 'grandmother' and 'aunt' which are basically the same except one has two of the same vowel. How do you pronounce words that use double vowels?

grandmother = obaasan おばあさん
aunt = obasan おばさん

With grandmother, you emphasize and lengthen the pronunciation with the double vowels. If it's just one vowel, you stop short.

Basically, if you want to say "aunt", say "obasan". If you want to say grandmother, say "obasan" with a longer "baa".  

[She-Lich]

Thank you!