|
ESL Forum:
Techniques and methods
in Language Teaching
Games, activities
and teaching ideas
Grammar and
Linguistics
Teaching material
Concerning
worksheets
Concerning
powerpoints
Concerning online
exercises
Make suggestions,
report errors
Ask for help
Message board
|
ESL forum >
Grammar and Linguistics > Pronunciation of "the" and "a"
Pronunciation of "the" and "a"
|
spinney
|
Pronunciation of "the" and "a"
|
|
Hi Peeps! Now, I �m a native speaker but that doesn �t mean I �m a good English speaker. I make all the mistakes that natives make and none of the mistakes that non-natives make. However, I �ve spoken to other teachers before about this and have never had a satisfactory reply. Why do we pronounce "the" as "thee" sometimes and "thu" in others. I know we say "thee" when we want to emphasize the importance of something but that �s all. And while I �m at it, why do we say "ay" for "a" sometimes. I really can �t think why but sometimes it seems better to. I can �t see a pattern though. Any thoughts on this? Could it be an antiquated form that has lingered without a rule attached? Is it the same as the "either" problem (is it "eyether" or "eether") in that it �s up to the individual? Or is it something far sinister to do with the Norman conquest and the likes (if in doubt blame French Vikings)? |
5 Jul 2011
|
|
|
|
Minka
|
|
Coming from a non - native speaker (and I know I can be mistaken):
"Ay" and "thee" when we put stress on it.
- when we want to make the difference between the two clearer (No, I didn �t say a (AY) difference, but THE (thee) difference.)
Have you eaten the sandwich? I �m not sure hat you mean. I ate a (AY) sandwich half an hour ago. I �m not sure it was the one you made for me. - THEE when we want to make sure the other person knows it �s about something or someone specific (or special). Useful for dramatizing a little: I have tried THE (thee) best cake in the world. I have met THE (thee) cutest guy ever!
- when we talk about the articles themselves: I think there is an a (ay) missing here and a the (thee) missing in the last sentence.
In all other cases we use the weak forms.
I �ll be waiting for corrections now so that I can learn some more. Hope you like the answer, though.
|
6 Jul 2011
|
|
|
moravc
|
British vs American English? "/eyether/" (British) / "/eether/" (American)
"ay" - I think native speakers use "/ay/" to emphasise the article "A" or to "slow down" the speed of speaking (when it doubt, thinking what to say next...)
I think I have seen "/ay/" ... blackbird in the garden. (The speaker is trying to remember the name of the bird)
"thee" - to emphasise or before a vowel pronounced
- "/thee/" apple, "/thee/" Eiffel Tower, "/thee/" internet, "/thee/" old book, "/thee/" underground
Have you found "/thee/" pen? (= Have you found that really expensive golden pen I gave you last Christmas?)
PS: I make (many) mistakes that non-natives make so I may be wrong... 
PS 2: I agree with Sophia - ueslteacher "a as /ei/ when we stress the meaning "one"
PS 3: I have also seen some films with slang/regional English and the poor were "overusing" /thee/ to give a strong emphasise. On the other hand an uneducated factory-boy pronounced "the" as /thuh/ all the time.
So maybe ignoring the rule of "/thee/ + pronounced vowel" suggests a lower social status (poor, uneducated...) in films / period dramas?
PS 4: my British teacher told us to use "/thee/" before vowels so that our sentence "flows" smoothly without any unnecessary stops / breaks.
Please note that there should be "/thee/" hour because it is pronounced with a vowel in the beginning of the noun. Beware of the silent letters followed by vowels...
|
6 Jul 2011
|
|
|
Mar0919
|
|
Hi, Spinney.... well, as I learned it, we say "thee" when the next word begins with a vowel as in: "the" (thee) airplane, the onion, etc. and we say "thu" when the word begins with a consonant, as in: "the"(thu) book, the chair, the table, etc. I did not learn this pattern in a language school, or as English as a Second Language. I learned this in school, in the United States, I grew up there and did all my schooling as a "native" speaker. Although I have no answer or clue for the "a" issue!  Hope I was of a little help! Hugs, Mar |
6 Jul 2011
|
|
|
ueslteacher
|
|
1) the is pronounced "thee" (apart from the case you mentioned) before words that start with a vowel and that �s a rule I �ve been taught e.g. the Earth; 2) we pronounce a as /ei/ when we stress the meaning "one"; 3) as far as either/neither is concerned, I was taught that the difference in pronunciation is the Am Eng/Br Eng variants.
from a non-native to a native
But there are experts out there who could explain it much deeper and better than me Sophia P.S. Goodness! While I was typing some three or is it four people were posting too  |
6 Jul 2011
|
|
|
Mar0919
|
|
I think dear Les can clear this doubt in a more thorough way! Hope he posts soon! Cheers! |
6 Jul 2011
|
|
|
ldthemagicman
|
|
Dear Spinney, I �ve come in very late and have worked on it for a short while. I �ll complete it tomorrow.Goodnight.Les |
6 Jul 2011
|
|
|
PhilipR
|
- /thee/ before vowel sounds (e.g. the /thee/ enemy)- �a � should not be pronounced as /ay/
I think these are the only rules language learners need. As for deviations from the norm, I always say there are always exceptions to rules. Also, some people seem to overuse /thee/ and /ay/ which can be a bit annoying sometimes (some newsreaders as well as US presidents seem to have this affectation). |
6 Jul 2011
|
|
|
|
|
yanogator
|
|
I think Philip said it very well. Keep it simple. Bruce |
6 Jul 2011
|
|
|
libertybelle
|
To make a long story short:
The (tha) sound before a consonant sound and
The (thee) sound before a vowel sound.
The same applies to an and an.
|
6 Jul 2011
|
|
1
2
Next >
|
I remember talking to an American at our school about the "eether/eyether" puzzle and she told me that it didn �t matter. However, the US isn �t really one country so much as a great big melting pot so perhaps in her state it didn �t really matter but in others it goes as standard. Anyway, thanks again folks. You �ve made my day!