Définition et Signification de "mora"

What is a "mora"?

A mora is a unit of sound that determines the timing or duration of a syllable in phonetics and phonology. It is used to measure the length of vowels and consonants, influencing the rhythm and flow of speech. In languages like Japanese, a single vowel, such as the "u" in "sushi," counts as one mora, while a long vowel, like the "oo" in "sōka," counts as two moras. Both "sushi" and "sōka" have two syllables, but "sushi" has two moras, while "sōka" has three moras due to the long vowel. Moras are significant in linguistics because they help analyze syllable structure and timing in speech, providing insight into how different languages handle rhythm and pronunciation.