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Paul Posted 22 years ago
Speech & Pronunciation
Different pronounciations of the indefinite article "a"?
Hello,
I heard people pronounce the indefinite article "a" in two different ways. One is - what I consider the standard way - pronounced like the first letter of e.g. "accomplishment" (the phonetic symbol for this is an upside-down "e" but I can't type this here) and the other is pronounced like the first letter of the alphabet [ey].
However, the second pronounciation is not always used but only used in some cases. I could not figure out yet which these cases are.
Can you tell me about these two ways of pronouncing "a" and when they are used?
Regards,
Paul
I heard people pronounce the indefinite article "a" in two different ways. One is - what I consider the standard way - pronounced like the first letter of e.g. "accomplishment" (the phonetic symbol for this is an upside-down "e" but I can't type this here) and the other is pronounced like the first letter of the alphabet [ey].
However, the second pronounciation is not always used but only used in some cases. I could not figure out yet which these cases are.
Can you tell me about these two ways of pronouncing "a" and when they are used?
Regards,
Paul
Top answer
In fast speech, "a" is usually pronounced as "uh", the upside-down "e". The only time I would use "ey" is when I stopped talking to think for a second, then continued on. Basically, if you always say "uh", you're fine.
- In fast speech, "a" is usually pronounced as "uh", the upside-down "e".
- The only time I would use "ey" is when I stopped talking to think for a second, then continued on.
- Basically, if you always say "uh", you're fine.
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20 Answers
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In fast speech, "a" is usually pronounced as "uh", the upside-down "e". The only time I would use "ey" is when I stopped talking to think for a second, then continued on. Basically, if you always say "uh", you're fine.
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When reading 'A' individually or when enumerating the articles, you may say /ey/ for 'A', and /ann/ for 'An'. But in normal speech, they're usually reduced to /uh/ and /uhn/.
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great question
I think saying "uh" (or that upside down e sound) is most always going to sound "normal" to American English speakers. But we do use the long a (you spelled it ey) to give a very slightly different meaning.
If I say "I ate "uh" sandwich for lunch", I mean my lunch was a sandwich and not something else for example. If I say "I ate "ey" sandwich for lunch", I
I think saying "uh" (or that upside down e sound) is most always going to sound "normal" to American English speakers. But we do use the long a (you spelled it ey) to give a very slightly different meaning.
If I say "I ate "uh" sandwich for lunch", I mean my lunch was a sandwich and not something else for example. If I say "I ate "ey" sandwich for lunch", I
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Personally, the [ey] pronunciation strikes me as an affectation, even though you will occasionally hear the news announcers on television using it. Very grating on the nerves!
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Thanks so much for this posting. President Bush makes use of the a (ey) pronunciation in his speeches. It reminds me of a young child who is just learning to read out loud. Example: "Father came home from a (ey)
hard day at the (thee) office." Now, I find it so annoying to hear that President-Elect Obama is treat the indefinite A sound the same way in his speeches. Perhaps this is the (the
hard day at the (thee) office." Now, I find it so annoying to hear that President-Elect Obama is treat the indefinite A sound the same way in his speeches. Perhaps this is the (the
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we can pronounce the article "a" as a schwa or as a long a [ey]
we pronounce it as a long a [ey] if we want to add emphasis to a noun, otherwise, we just pronounce it as a schwa
---jacky ^_^
we pronounce it as a long a [ey] if we want to add emphasis to a noun, otherwise, we just pronounce it as a schwa
---jacky ^_^
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Man... thanks a lot for your link!! And thanks a lot to the guy who published this question... I teach English in Colombia, and I had been looking for this answer long time ago, and now, I think I've been given a great explanation!!
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I checked out this link after following the UK Genearal Election coverage yesterday and today on the BBC. Nearly everyone, politicians and commentatirs alike, is saying 'ey' all the time. I'd been wondering where this sprang from, and the Bush/Obama precedent looks like a promising explanation. Pity I find it so annoying!
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