loki harfagr wrote:
> On Fri, 02 May 2008 22:15:51 +0200, Einde O'Callaghan wrote:
>
>> loki harfagr wrote:
>>> On Thu, 01 May 2008 11:18:21 +0200, Daniel.C wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi.
>>>> I learned to use "an" before a noun beginning by a vowel.
>>> a *vowel sound* (not like for the 'the' case ;-)
>>>
>>>> I think this
>>>> is correct :
>>>> an user
>>> no, the 'u' here's a special diphtong
>>>
>>>> but I read so many "a user" that I don't know what to think. Can you
>>>> help me ?
>>> I'd pronounce '"er" user' or in some circles I'd even try
>>> the '"ay" user', in some other circles that'll be 'a luser' ;-)
>>>
>>>> Thanks in advance.
>>>> Daniel
>>> hope it helped :-)
>>>
>> It doesn't look at all helpful to me. Pierre H. has given the right
>> answer - the use of "a" or "an" depends on pronunciation, not spelling.
>
> then as my answer was all about pronunciation I can't
> really understand your remark! Anyway, the OP seems to have
> read it correctly so at least I didn't totally miss my post ;-)
If that's the case you were also wrong - the pronunciation of the glide
between teh article and the noun doesn't have any trace of an "r" in it
at all - "ah yoozer", using English orthography.
And the sound represented by the "u" is not a diphthong of any kind - it
starts with the consonant sound represented by "y" in English and is
followed by a long "u" sound - even if in some linguistic texts the
former sound is described as a semi-vowel, it is still a consonant.
If you are going to give advice about pronunciation then please try to
get it right.
Regards, Einde O'Callaghan
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