The English indefinite article is a [ə] before most words; a lion, a peanut, a map, a unicorn, etc., but it is an [æn] before words like apple, onion, icicle, evening, eagle, and honor. To what natural classes of sounds do the sounds at the beginning of each set of words belong? (That is, before what class of sounds do you use [ə]? [æn]?]

We use a [ə] before words that when we pronounce them, the sound is the one of a consonant, and we use an [æn] before words that when we pronounce them, the sound is the one of a vowel.

Explanation:

A [ə] is used before words that when we pronounce them, they start with a consonant, for example, a house, a cat, or a peanut.

On the other hand, an [æn] is used before words that when we pronounce them, they start with a vowel, for example, an onion, an orange, or an elephant.

Even though the word honor does not start with a vowel in its spelling when we pronounce it, it does, that is why these words use the definite article an. Another example of this is university or unicorn, they are spelled with a vowel at the beginning, but when we pronounce them, we pronounce a consonant [j].

can i see the painting?

answer:   a good wench, give it me.

iago

good girl, give it to me.

emilia

what will you do with ’t, that you have been so earnest

325to have me filch it?

emilia

and what are you going to do with it? why did you want it so much that you begged me to steal it?

iago

  why, what is that to you?

iago

what’s it to you?

emilia

if it be not for some purpose of import,

give ’t me again. poor lady, she’ll run mad

when she shall lack it.

emilia

if you don’t need it for some important reason, then give it back to me. poor lady, she’ll go crazy when she sees it’s missing.

iago

be not acknown on ’t,

330i have use for it. go, leave me.

iago

don’t admit to knowing anything about it. i need it. now go, leave me.

exit emilia

emilia exits.

i will in cassio’s lodging lose this napkin

and let him find it. trifles light as air

are to the jealous confirmations strong

as proofs of holy writ. this may do something.

335the moor already changes with my poison.

dangerous conceits are in their natures poisons

which at the first are scarce found to distaste,

but with a little act upon the blood

burn like the mines of sulfur.

i’ll leave this handkerchief at cassio’s house and let him find it.to a jealous man, a meaningless little thing like this looks like absolute proof. this handkerchief may be useful to me. the moor’s mind has already become infected with my poisonous suggestions. ideas can be like poisons. at first they hardly even taste bad, but once they get into your blood they start burning like hot lava.

enter othello

othello enters.

    i did say so.

340look, where he comes. not poppy nor mandragora

nor all the drowsy syrups of the world,

shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep

which thou owedst yesterday.

here he comes. no drugs or sleeping pills will ever give you the restful sleep that you had last night.

othello

    ha! ha! false to me?

othello

argh! she’s cheating on me?

iago

why, how now, general? no more of that.

iago

oh, general, , no more of that!

explanation: