Charlie Bernstein
VIP Member
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2009
- Member Type
- Other
- Native Language
- English
- Home Country
- United States
- Current Location
- United States
I'll take NewYorkian.
I'll take Manhattian.
I'll take NewYorkian.
A, E, I, O, U: vowel letters;
W: consonant letter, sometimes a semivowel letter;
Y : consonant letter, sometimes a semivowel letter, sometimes a vowel letter.
As we say in New Yorkian: Oy!
I see what you mean. W does behave something like a vowel. Any word with a W could be spelled with vowels instead. West could be spelled oest.
But the important thing is how the letter is used in the architecture of the word. Just as all houses require entrances, all syllables require vowels. Since a W cannot play that role, it's not a vowel.
There are no semi-vowels. Again, a Y is always either a vowel (style) or a consonant (yes). It is never partly one and partly the other. (Personally, I think it's easier to just call Y a full-time vowel, but I don't get a vote.)
So when you think of what makes a letter a vowel, don't think about pronunciation. Think about whether it's part of the structure of the syllable.
It's an arbitrary rule, but it works.
The difference between W and Y is Y can a have a vowel sound all by itself; W does not.
Nice to have your response, Charlie.
You said the word serve is pronounced as /srv/. Then, which letter of 'serve' is a vowel?
The difference between W and Y is Y can a have a vowel sound all by itself; W does not.
In your first example, W has no vowel sound. In your second example Y is a consonant. Y is a vowel in 'sky" and "cry".
And bicycle and lady, which we could never spell bicwcle and ladw.
Good points. Got that, Taiwan?
Well, evidently there is support for your position, but I still find it odd. And I don't see how it improves the understanding or learning of English.
So how did we end up with W?
So how did we end up with W?
Many Spanish call it "doble ve".And why isn't it called "double v"?
We have long vowel sounds in English and short vowel sounds. One has to learn the difference. That is not a simple process.