Re: Pronunciation ...

[Colin Fine <colin@kindness.demon.co.uk>]

vecu'u le notci po'u <199904101214.NAA12251@nickel.cix.co.uk> la
C.D.Wright@solipsys.compulink.co.uk cu cusku di'e
>From: C.D.Wright@solipsys.compulink.co.uk
>
>OK, now I'm confused.  I've downloaded a copy of the 
>textbook to check on a few things (my copies of the 
>reference grammar haven't arrived yet.  Bob ??)  and
>I've just re-read the bit about pronunciation.  In 
>particular, the letter  "a".  Here's a complete clip:
>
You must remember that Lojban being an international language, its
materials are written firmly in American vau zo'o.
>
>and the bit that *really* confuses me is the line:
>
>txt_bk> a  /ah/  'top',   'father'  patfu    /PAHT,foo/
>
>To me,  "top"  and  "father"  have nothing in common, 
>and, in particular, to me, the  "a"  in  "father"  sounds 
>just like the  "a"  in  "sofa". 

For most people on the ropno side of the pond "top" and "father" have
nothing in common; but nor, I suggest do many people pronounce the <a>
in "sofa" like that in "father". (I do so pronounce the <a> in 'tonic
sol-fa')
>
>So, just how *does* one pronounce the  "a" ??
>Which of the following gives the best approximation?
>
>    "top", "often", "off", "octet", "October"
>    "gas", "grab", "dab", "action", "actual"
>    "tug", "mug", "undo", "father", "money"
>
For most in southern England, "father" does indeed provide the best
guide. "tug" is not too bad, being fairly low; but in other dialects,
this vowel is more central, and confusable with the schwa.

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|     Colin Fine    66 High Ash, Shipley, W Yorks. BD18 1NE, UK       |
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