RP
æ
Ash
Between open and half-open, front, neutral; checked (but longer than the other short vowels), neither lax nor tense.
For the articulation of RP /æ/, the front of the tongue is raised between the half-open and open positions, with the side rims making a very firm contact with the back upper molars. The lips are neutrally open. The mouth is more open than for /e/. The quality of RP/æ/ is nowadays nearer CV 4 [a] (front open) than CV 3 [ɛ] (front half-open).
Spelling
| <a> | bad /bæd/, angry /ˈæŋɡri/, ankle /ˈæŋkl̩/, gnat /næt/ | ||
| also in the stressed suffix <-aphic> | photographic /fəʊtəˈɡræfɪk/ | ||
| <ai> | plaid /plæd/, plait /plæt/ | ||
| Rare cases: |
|
Examples
|
|
| have /hæv/ |
| hat /hæt/ |
| plait /plæt/ |
| plaid /plæd/ |
| album /ˈælbəm/ |
| exam /ɪɡˈzæm/ |
| handbag /ˈhændbæɡ/ |
|
Pat is glad she's passed her exam.
/pæt s ɡlæd ʃiz pɑ:st hər ɪɡˈzæm||/ |
|
As a matter of fact, it was a flash in the pan. /əz ə ˈmætər əv fækt | ɪt wəz ə flæʃ ɪn ðə pæn/ |
|
How can an ant run so fast?
/ˈhaʊ kən ən ˈænt ˈrʌn ˈsəʊ ˈfɑ:st/ |
|
I gather that the salad on the black mat has apples, carrots, meringue and a sandwich.
/aɪ ˈɡæðə ðət ðə ˈsæləd ɒn ðə ˈblæk ˈmæt həz ˈæpl̩z ˈkærəts ˈməˈræŋ ənd ə ˈsænwɪdʒ/ |
|
If you can't can any candy can, how many candy cans can a candy canner can if he can can candy cans?
/ɪf ju ˈkɑ:nt ˈkæn ˈeni ˈkændi ˈkæn | ˈhaʊ ˈmeni ˈkændi ˈkænz kən ə ˈkændi ˈkænə ˈkæn ɪf hi kən ˈkæn ˈkændi ˈkænz/ |
Pronunciation
The front of the tongue is slightly higher than for an open vowel. The lips are slightly spread. The soft palate is raised (unless followed by a nasal).
PSp
a
Lower case a
Open front unrounded vowel.
When we pronounce this sound, the centre of the tongue is away from the palate. The tip of the tongue touches the lower teeth. The lips are in their neutral position. The vocal folds vibrate during the production of this sound.
Spelling
Examples
| alarido |
| cariño |
| ama |
|
|
Pronunciation
The centre of the tongue is away from the palate. The tip of the tongue touches the lower teeth. The lips are in their neutral position. The vocal folds vibrate during the production of this sound.
