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A small question about English

post #1 of 37
11/21/09 at 10:08am
Thread Starter 
Is it correct to pronounce the article word 'a' like the letter a? The spoken English may not have that strict formal rules but I wonder if there's a preferred way to say it.

Because there are so much foreign people on this forum, maybe this thread could serve as a collection of small, general Q&A of the English language and its dialects.
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post #2 of 37
11/21/09 at 11:43am
I think it depends on your accent and perhaps even the context. I personally say "a" like "uh" most of the time, but I wouldn't be surprised if there are a few instances where I pronounce it like the letter "a".

Like some people say the word "the" like "thee" or "thuh" depending on the context and their accent..
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post #3 of 37
11/21/09 at 12:00pm
I would read the 'a' in 'article' like the 'a' in 'Arctic'.

But English is not my native language, so I could be wrong.

EDIT: disregard that, I'm an idiot.
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post #4 of 37
11/21/09 at 12:25pm
Thread Starter 
Yes, there are context-specific rules and stuff. And I was just wondering if it can be pronounced as 'ay' in any event at all. I've saved the long 'a' to cover the situations the word needs emphasizing (like 'thee') but I tend to use different a's mixed up. On the other hand, I don't talk English aloud much if at all.

wap32, that wasn't unfortunately what I meant.
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post #5 of 37
11/21/09 at 12:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by progo View Post
wap32, that wasn't unfortunately what I meant.
Yes, I see it now, my bad.

I read it like "uh", but I've heard it as "ay".
I'm not sure there is a preferred way to say it, but I can see where one might be preferred over the other depending on the context.
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post #6 of 37
11/21/09 at 1:39pm
im from southern half of england, i say it like 'uh' i cant think if the northerners say it different or not now
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post #7 of 37
11/21/09 at 2:07pm
eguipments
maths
gears



They don't need an "S" people!

I'm ssssssssssssssssssammmy the snake. I slither in your booty hole.

No terminal S

No terminal S

No terminal S

Chant it with me.
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post #8 of 37
11/21/09 at 2:12pm
Ayyyyy!



But seriously, I've heard both pronunciations and I have never noticed until now.
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post #9 of 37
11/21/09 at 2:20pm
I've heard a pronounce both ways, and looking it up in Websters, it says uh, and when stressed ey

See a1 A Definition | Definition of A at Dictionary.com

Also reading the usages, I pronounce 2, 6, and 7 ey. The others I pronounce uh.

Rules are pretty loose in English
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post #10 of 37
11/21/09 at 3:49pm
Thread Starter 
Nice! Didn't realize I could have checked that from a dictionary.
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post #11 of 37
11/21/09 at 7:02pm
I usually pronounce the letter "A" as in when I say "@sshole". But I heard Vikings pronounce that differently...
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post #12 of 37
11/21/09 at 8:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Samgotit View Post
eguipments
maths
gears



They don't need an "S" people!

I'm ssssssssssssssssssammmy the snake. I slither in your booty hole.

No terminal S

No terminal S

No terminal S

Chant it with me.
NEVAR!!!

Maths (yes, with an s) is a shortened form of Mathematics, amiright? Mathematics has an S, therefore maths should have an s also. Mathematics, maths. Not mathematic, math.
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post #13 of 37
11/21/09 at 8:10pm
I don't think I've ever heard anyone use math in the plural. I've only heard mathematics
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post #14 of 37
11/21/09 at 8:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by fraseyboy View Post
NEVAR!!!

Maths (yes, with an s) is a shortened form of Mathematics, amiright?
No. It's math. No S. It's in the handbook.
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post #15 of 37
11/21/09 at 8:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Samgotit View Post
No. It's math. No S. It's in the handbook.
no, in the entire english speaking world its maths

in the US its math
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