Schwa: Difference between revisions
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'''Schwa'''<ref>[[IPA]] /ʃwɑː/</ref> is the name linguists use for the most neutral of vowel sounds, the usual, weak, pronunciation of the indefinite article 'a', the gentle grunt of 'uh huh'. Its [[IPA|phonetic symbol]] is [ə], which in [[Azeri language|Azeri]] is used as a letter. | '''Schwa'''<ref>[[IPA]] /ʃwɑː/</ref> is the name linguists use for the most neutral of vowel sounds, the usual, weak, pronunciation of the indefinite article ''a'', the gentle grunt of ''uh huh''. Its [[IPA|phonetic symbol]] is [ə], which in [[Azeri language|Azeri]] is used as a letter. | ||
In [[English language|English]], it can be represented by a number of vowel-letters: it is the ''u'' in ''careful'', the ''e'' in ''worker'', the ''a'' in ''above'' and the ''o'' in ''person''. | In [[English language|English]], it can be represented by a number of vowel-letters: it is the ''u'' in ''careful'', the ''e'' in ''worker'', the ''a'' in ''above'' and the ''o'' in ''person''. | ||
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Some languages have more than one schwa. In addition to the English one, [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] has [ɐ], which, as its 'a'-like symbol implies, is a little more open. | Some languages have more than one schwa. In addition to the English one, [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] has [ɐ], which, as its 'a'-like symbol implies, is a little more open. | ||
[[Russian language|Russian]] final ''o'' is | [[Russian language|Russian]] unstressed final ''o'' is pronounced schwa (identical to unstressed ''a''), a fact almost never reflected in English, which normally gives full value to final ''o'' in names like ''Yevtushenko'' and ''Chern(y)enko''. | ||
The name is derived from a [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] word that means "emptiness" or "vanity," and it is also the name of a Hebrew vowel mark that is sometimes pronounced like a schwa, and sometimes not pronounced at all.<ref>Oxford English Dictionary, s.v. "sheva".</ref> | The name is derived from a [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] word that means "emptiness" or "vanity," and it is also the name of a Hebrew vowel mark that is sometimes pronounced like a schwa, and sometimes not pronounced at all.<ref>Oxford English Dictionary, s.v. "sheva".</ref> | ||
Revision as of 19:45, 21 February 2010
Schwa[1] is the name linguists use for the most neutral of vowel sounds, the usual, weak, pronunciation of the indefinite article a, the gentle grunt of uh huh. Its phonetic symbol is [ə], which in Azeri is used as a letter.
In English, it can be represented by a number of vowel-letters: it is the u in careful, the e in worker, the a in above and the o in person.
Some languages have more than one schwa. In addition to the English one, Portuguese has [ɐ], which, as its 'a'-like symbol implies, is a little more open.
Russian unstressed final o is pronounced schwa (identical to unstressed a), a fact almost never reflected in English, which normally gives full value to final o in names like Yevtushenko and Chern(y)enko.
The name is derived from a Hebrew word that means "emptiness" or "vanity," and it is also the name of a Hebrew vowel mark that is sometimes pronounced like a schwa, and sometimes not pronounced at all.[2]