noun
writing palatalized sounds with a single kana
Linguistic term referring to the practice of representing palatalized syllables (e.g., しゃ, しゅ, しょ) with a single kana character (e.g., さ, す, そ), common in Middle Japanese literature.
中世日本語の文献では、直音表記がよく見られる。
In Middle Japanese texts, writing palatalized sounds with a single kana is often seen.
拗音 refers to palatalized sounds themselves (e.g., しゃ, しゅ, しょ), while 直音表記 is the orthographic practice of writing them with a single kana.
Compound of 直音 (chokuon, 'straight sound', i.e., non-palatalized kana) and 表記 (hyōki, 'notation'). The term describes a historical orthographic convention.