As per phonetics theory, I've been told one should use the indefinite
article "a" before words beginning with a consonant and "an" before
words beginning with a vowel or a diphthong. And the sound "y" ( or /
j /   in phonetic script) as in "eulogy", "university", "European"
etc. is to be treated as a consonant (though in certain contexts one
would also call it a "semi-vowel").

Why is it that I still find "an" preceeding this sound in  certain
write-ups generating combinations such as "an eulogy",  and "an
university" ?  Are these instances of incorrect usage?

Paul.

Paul wrote:
> As per phonetics theory, I've been told one should use the indefinite
> article "a" before words beginning with a consonant and "an" before
> words beginning with a vowel or a diphthong. And the sound "y" ( or /
> j /   in phonetic script) as in "eulogy", "university", "European"
> etc. is to be treated as a consonant (though in certain contexts one
> would also call it a "semi-vowel").
> 
> Why is it that I still find "an" preceeding this sound in  certain
> write-ups generating combinations such as "an eulogy",  and "an
> university" ?  Are these instances of incorrect usage?
> 
Yes - the choice of "a" or "an" is a question of pronunciation, not of 
spelling.

Regards, Einde O'Callaghan

In message 
, 
Paul  writes
>As per phonetics theory, I've been told one should use the indefinite
>article "a" before words beginning with a consonant and "an" before
>words beginning with a vowel or a diphthong. And the sound "y" ( or /
>j /   in phonetic script) as in "eulogy", "university", "European"
>etc. is to be treated as a consonant (though in certain contexts one
>would also call it a "semi-vowel").
>
>Why is it that I still find "an" preceeding this sound in  certain
>write-ups generating combinations such as "an eulogy",  and "an
>university" ?  Are these instances of incorrect usage?
>
>Paul.

A lot of people write 'an hotel', which always surprises me. Do they say 
it without the 'h'? I think 'a eulogy' and 'a university' are 
preferable.


Simon
-- 
Simon Rayner

Simon Rayner wrote:
> In message 
> , 
> Paul  writes
>> As per phonetics theory, I've been told one should use the indefinite
>> article "a" before words beginning with a consonant and "an" before
>> words beginning with a vowel or a diphthong. And the sound "y" ( or /
>> j /   in phonetic script) as in "eulogy", "university", "European"
>> etc. is to be treated as a consonant (though in certain contexts one
>> would also call it a "semi-vowel").
>>
>> Why is it that I still find "an" preceeding this sound in  certain
>> write-ups generating combinations such as "an eulogy",  and "an
>> university" ?  Are these instances of incorrect usage?
>>
>> Paul.
> 
> A lot of people write 'an hotel', which always surprises me. Do they say 
> it without the 'h'? I think 'a eulogy' and 'a university' are preferable.
> 
The pronunciation of the "h" in words like "hotel" and "history" is 
quite recent. These words are of French origin and the "h" isn't 
pronounced initially in French. In the case of some words of French 
origin such as "hour and "honest" the "h" is still not pronounced. And 
in the case of some other words both pronunciations are possible e.g. in 
"herb" the "h" is pronounced in Britain but I understand that it isn't 
in many parts of the US.

Regards, Einde O'Callaghan

"Einde O'Callaghan"  wrote in 
message news:6bv4i6F3e2sqnU1@mid.individual.net...
> Simon Rayner wrote:
>> In message 
>> , 
>> A lot of people write 'an hotel', which always surprises me. Do 
>> they say it without the 'h'? I think 'a eulogy' and 'a 
>> university' are preferable.
>>
> The pronunciation of the "h" in words like "hotel" and "history" 
> is quite recent. These words are of French origin and the "h" 
> isn't pronounced initially in French. In the case of some words of 
> French origin such as "hour and "honest" the "h" is still not 
> pronounced. And in the case of some other words both 
> pronunciations are possible e.g. in "herb" the "h" is pronounced 
> in Britain but I understand that it isn't in many parts of the US.

Many English people use 'an' before some words beginning with 'h', 
but my experience is that this only occurs (apart from the cases 
where the 'h' is mute anyway) when the first syllable is not 
accented. Thus 'a history' but 'an historian'.
-- 
Noel

On 19 Jun, 20:39, "Ildhund"  wrote:
> "Einde O'Callaghan"  wrote in
> messagenews:6bv4i6F3e2sqnU1@mid.individual.net...
>
> > Simon Rayner wrote:
> >> In message
> >> ,
> >> A lot of people write 'an hotel', which always surprises me. Do
> >> they say it without the 'h'? I think 'a eulogy' and 'a
> >> university' are preferable.
>
> > The pronunciation of the "h" in words like "hotel" and "history"
> > is quite recent. These words are of French origin and the "h"
> > isn't pronounced initially in French. In the case of some words of
> > French origin such as "hour and "honest" the "h" is still not
> > pronounced. And in the case of some other words both
> > pronunciations are possible e.g. in "herb" the "h" is pronounced
> > in Britain but I understand that it isn't in many parts of the US.
>
> Many English people use 'an' before some words beginning with 'h',
> but my experience is that this only occurs (apart from the cases
> where the 'h' is mute anyway) when the first syllable is not
> accented. Thus 'a history' but 'an historian'.
> --
> Noel

I'd be interested in finding out how many are there in this group of
ours who'd prefer 'an historian' to a historian'. (This is only a
matter of academic curiosity! O.K?)

Paul

"Paul"  wrote in message 
news:887b10b3-aea1-40a7-adb3-8c7c27d1a8fa@x19g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
> On 19 Jun, 20:39, "Ildhund"  wrote:
>> "Einde O'Callaghan"  wrote in
>> messagenews:6bv4i6F3e2sqnU1@mid.individual.net...
>>
>> > Simon Rayner wrote:
>> >> In message
>> >> ,
>> >> A lot of people write 'an hotel', which always surprises me. Do
>> >> they say it without the 'h'? I think 'a eulogy' and 'a
>> >> university' are preferable.
>>
>> > The pronunciation of the "h" in words like "hotel" and "history"
>> > is quite recent. These words are of French origin and the "h"
>> > isn't pronounced initially in French. In the case of some words of
>> > French origin such as "hour and "honest" the "h" is still not
>> > pronounced. And in the case of some other words both
>> > pronunciations are possible e.g. in "herb" the "h" is pronounced
>> > in Britain but I understand that it isn't in many parts of the US.
>>
>> Many English people use 'an' before some words beginning with 'h',
>> but my experience is that this only occurs (apart from the cases
>> where the 'h' is mute anyway) when the first syllable is not
>> accented. Thus 'a history' but 'an historian'.
>> --
>> Noel
>
> I'd be interested in finding out how many are there in this group of
> ours who'd prefer 'an historian' to a historian'. (This is only a
> matter of academic curiosity! O.K?)
>
> Paul

I'm Canadian, and I usually say and write "an historian".  In this country 
it comes across as a bit of an affectation, but I allow myself a few of 
those!

Cheers,

Chris