English Language Discussion Forums

Lenka · #1 24-Sep-2006, 19:16

I noticed that sometimes some people tend to pronounce indefinite articles (a) as [ei] - not [ə]. Is it normal? Does it have something to do with dialects or something? Where is it pronounced as [ei] ?

In addition, in my dictionary I found out, that "a fortnight" should be pronounced "ei fo:tnait". Why should I pronounce the article "ei"? Is it a rule? How do I recognise it?

**BobK** · #2 24-Sep-2006, 20:04

[ei] is used (systematically, in RBP*) in two cases that I am aware of; there may be more. These are my two:

1 in current speech, where the speaker knows that a noun is coming, but hasn't decided what it is yet, or whether it will take an adjective, what that adjective will be, and so on. It's a way of signalling to the listener 'Don't interrupt, but I need a bit of thinking time'.

2 to emphasize that the thing being spoken about isn't unique: "Yes, I had a knife, but you can't prove it was the murder weapon".

I remember a joke that used this device. It was set in an audition for impersonators:

"Next... Name please."
"Adolph Hitler"
"Right, that's A. Hitler"
"No, the Hitler"

b

* there may in fact be dialects that prefer one pronunciation or the other,
but this is essentially not to do with dialect

Lenka · #3 25-Sep-2006, 16:42

Why shall I pronouce "a fortnight" as "ei fo:tnait" ? It was written in my dictionary and I don't understand why...

**BobK** · #4 25-Sep-2006, 21:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lenka

Why shall I pronouce "a fortnight" as "ei fo:tnait" ? It was written in my dictionary and I don't understand why...

I see no reason for that pronunciation, except in emphatic contexts such as I have mentioned. In almost all cases, a schwa will be right,

b

**BobK** · #5 26-Sep-2006, 14:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobK

I see no reason for that pronunciation, except in emphatic contexts such as I have mentioned.
.
.
.

I've been thinking about this further ('mulling it over'), and I can't think of such a context. In exceptional circumstances, I suppose an exchange like this might be possible:

"How long will it take to get that report ready?"
"Ages."
"Weeks?"
"Fortnights, more like." [Joking - this is almost a neologism.]
"Well, I need it sooner than that - a fortnight."

But I can't honestly imagine this happening; in all real contexts, I don't believe 'fortnight' can have a plural; and that means it can't have a contrastive (stressed) singular either.

b