Andrew Huang <alhuang@hcs.harvard.edu> wrote:
 

As a particle, the 'ha' is nearly always pronounced 'wa'.  (I'd say
always, but my Japanese isn't good enough to say it with certainty).

The particle that is properly spelled (and also pronounced) 'wa' is
most commonly used as an emphasis marker in effeminate speach.
(again, in my limited experience).

Um, I sense confusion here.  There is no particle "ha".  "Wa", 
when used as a particle, is written "ha".  When used for other 
purposes, such as in words, it's written "wa".

The same is true of the particle "e" -- it's written "he" -- and
"o" is written "wo" when used as a particle.

--
David Eddy -- dje@progress.com
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Towers/8341/