Navigation system

For route guidance, an intersection guidance unit (32) generates a route guide map for providing route guidance at an intersection which a user's vehicle approaches, and displays the map on a display device (6) through an image combiner (18). A guidance statement generator (40) acquires a predetermined word significant to the route guidance, such as an intersection name or a place name indicating a destination or intermediate point, from the intersection guidance unit (32) to form a route guidance statement using the native language of a user. The guidance statement generator (40) then forms a guidance statement with a word having a plurality of readings, such as a place name, announced in a local language (language local to the region where the vehicle is located). Based on the formed guidance statement, a speech signal is generated by a speech synthesizer (42), and is then input to a speaker (7) to provide the guidance statements, by speech, using both the native language and the local language.