jwb@csse.monash.edu.au wrote:
> Christopher Creutzig <christopher@creutzig.de> dixit:
>> Lawson English wrote:
> 
>>> 「踏み込むぜアクセル」(fumikomu ze akuseru)
>>>
>>> I understand that it roughly means "Step hard on the accelerator" but 
>>> what does 「ぜ」 mean? Is this a variation of 「て」that is used to make 
>> The Kodansha dictionary on Japanese particles only lists 「ぜ」at the 
>> end of a sentence, apparently similar to 「ね」, but only in men's 
>> language and “Used only in casual conversation among colleagues or with 
>> those whose supposed social status is below that of the speaker.”
> 
> Think of the ぜ as adding emphasis. 踏み込むぜ! アクセル!

Thanks to both of you. The word order normally would be
アクセル に 踏み込むぜ! wouldn't it? Just doesn't sound forceful that
way and wouldn't scan in the song, I guess...

> 
>>> the song sound nicer (like using wo instead of o) or is it an unusual 
>> Do they actually pronounce “wo” with an audible w? I've only seen “wo” 
>> as a way of typing in 「を」 so far, which to the best of my knowledge 
>> is pronounced exactly like 「お」.
> 
> Never heard of を being pronounced wo in modern Japanese (it may have
> been a thousand years ago.)
> 

Listen to the words of the introductory song. 「を」 is clearly
pronounced wo in several places instead of o. I think it's a singing
convention. English singing has several. Most people never notice them
unless they are listening for them (which is the point--certain sounds
are unclear when they are sung, so you change the pronunciation so it
sounds proper to the listener).


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPpiIiKapIU