Eva Easton

Authentic American Pronunciation

#1 Indefinite Article: an

two mice - One knows a secret!
Howdy,

What is the baker in the picture wearing to keep his clothes clean?

An apron.

bakers-858394_960_720
We write:  an apron
We say:  a napron

https://www.evaeaston.com/wp-content/uploads/an-apron-1.mp3

Until the 16th century, this word was spelled “a napron.”
Since that time, the spelling has changed to “an apron.”

However, we still pronounce it “a napron.”
Again, link consonant sound + vowel sound.

How do we say these words?

1. an apple [a napple]

https://www.evaeaston.com/wp-content/uploads/an-apple.mp3

2. an elephant [a nelephant]

https://www.evaeaston.com/wp-content/uploads/an-elephant.mp3

3. an ice cream [a nice cream]

https://www.evaeaston.com/wp-content/uploads/an-ice-cream.mp3

4. an orange [a norange]

https://www.evaeaston.com/wp-content/uploads/an-orange.mp3

5. an umbrella [a numbrella]

https://www.evaeaston.com/wp-content/uploads/an-umbrella.mp3


apple-1532055_960_720

elephant-111695_960_720

ice-cream-cone-1579124_960_720orange-204433_960_720umbrella-159361_960_720
Here are the words in Prator & Robinett transcription.

1.  /ə – næpl/
2.  /ə – nɛl – ə – fənt/
3.  /ə – nays – kriym/
4.  /ə – nɔrɪnd͡ʒ/
5.  /ə – nɔm – brɛ – lə/



two mice - One knows a secret!
Now it’s your turn.
Where do we link?

1. an airplane
2. an oven
3. an island
4. an ambulance

https://www.evaeaston.com/wp-content/uploads/an-airplane-oven-island-ambulance.mp3


thunderbirds-1088410_960_720
pizza-maker-52557_960_720
island-1285147_960_720
ambulance-1423505_960_720

 

1. an airplane  [a nairplane]
2. an oven  [a noven]
3. an island  [a nisland]
4. an ambulance  [a nambulance]

You don’t hear:  an = /ən/
You hear:  /ə/ + n + vowel sound


 

Friday, November 18, 2016 by Eva Easton Filed Under: a, an, Linking

Comments

  1. Filippo Grippi says

    Monday, December 10, 2018 at 6:07 am

    OKKK. Goodbye

    Reply

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