Can a have an A, men?

[Salikoko Mufwene]

I don't think the absence of the "a"~"an" alternation is a recent thing.
It's a common, variable feature in African American English. I doubt
that this one should be called "N-dropping," but what's in a name? There
are many speakers who do not vary the pronunciation of the definite
article, with the schwa or with an [i] in the same environment.

Sali.

Rex W. Stocklin wrote:
> I assume my posts are annoying little laic gnats in the rarified air
> of all your wordsmiths, but I DO have one observation, I've yet to
> see any pundit or other social observer make.
>
> And I'm wanting to know if it is a cultural quirk I've managed to
> miss like "It's ALL good". I'm speaking of erudite black folks'
> seeming propensity to use "a" instead of "an", when not only grammar
> but consonance seem to demand the latter. (article-noun agreement?)
>
> The most audible culprit is President Obama, who regularly n-drops.
> Here is one ironic citation:
>
> "Oh, well, you know, we have thought about this because part of what
> we want to do is to open up the White House and, and remind people
> this is, this is the people's house. There is an incredible bully
> pulpit to be used when it comes to, for example, education. Yes,
> we're going to have A EDUCATION policy..." - from "Meet the Press"
> 12/7/08
>
> Folks he DOES it all the time!!!! "a economy," "a official," "a
> Afghani," "a enormous," "a understanding". Just listen closely some
> time.
>
> There was an incident with a football player during the pre-game of
> the SuperBowl, but that one I didn't note. THEN Sunday evening
> erstwhile Colts coach Tony Dungy, in a local TV affiliate interview
> (for locals it was was WTHR's Dave Callabro) heard saying (regarding
> his participation at the Inagural Gala): "It was A UNBELIEVABLE
> experience"
>
> It is a very recent trend that is like nails on my cochlea. And I've
> yet to hear any other ethnic group partake in the phenomenon.
>
> Any thoughts? Is this further erosion of the mother tongue, or a
> somehow useful evolution?
>
> Rex, in the cheap seats.
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

--
**********************************************************
Salikoko S. Mufwene                    s-mufwene at uchicago.edu
Frank J. McLoraine Distinguished Service Professor
University of Chicago                  773-702-8531; FAX 773-834-0924
Department of Linguistics
1010 East 59th Street
Chicago, IL 60637, USA
http://humanities.uchicago.edu/faculty/mufwene
**********************************************************

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org