Date:  Tue, 6 Jan 1998 18:54:01 -0500 (EST)
Message-Id: <199801062354.SAA14632@locke.ccil.org>
Reply-To: Rick Nylander <rnylander@DTSI.COM>
Sender: Lojban list <LOJBAN@CUVMB.BITNET>
From: Rick Nylander <rnylander@DTSI.COM>
Subject:      Re: lojban 'a'
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To: John Cowan <cowan@LOCKE.CCIL.ORG>
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X-From-Space-Date: Tue Jan  6 18:54:04 1998
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Steven Belknap:
>>I'm from the western U.S. (me no speakee New English).  Is it
something
>>like
>>halfway between the a's in "fat" and "father"?
>
>like the a in father.

The refgram states that 'a' as in father ("[A]") is an acceptable
alternative.
The preferred pronunciation is [a], which is only vaguely described.

From PC's remark, it seems that it is halfway between [A] and fat-a.

Out of curiosity, why was [A], which can be easily confused with schwa,
chosen as an
acceptable alternative, while "a as in cat" was rejected?  The latter
seems more distinct.

Rik.