Does it really matter and does anyone really care that he left out an a?
2006-10-01 16:18:27 · 14 answers · asked by Maria 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
No don't care if grammatically incorrect, it's being in a moment and saying what you are thinking.
2006-10-01 16:23:42 · answer #1 · answered by Minot_1997 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Neil Armstrong cared enough about it such that when he returned to earth he made mention to NASA that the transcript was incorrect.
http://www.snopes.com/quotes/onesmall.asp
Now whether he was covering his own mistake, or whether the "a" was lost in the static (and it has never been clear which), he has continued to say that what he said was "one small step for a man".
There is a difference in meaning with or without the "a".
I see no reason to disbelieve Armstrong, and I have some faith in the recent "discovery" that the "a" was, indeed, spoken but lost to static.
2006-10-02 10:11:43 · answer #2 · answered by TJ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There really is no "controversy" here, just a bunch of liberal eggheads trying to throw mud on a significant event in our nation's history, as usual. Anyway, I seem to remember there being a slight catch in the original recording, as if from a static interruption. If Armstrong says he said "a," I'm inclined to believe him, if only because the media claims otherwise. However, does it really make any difference?
2006-10-02 12:40:44 · answer #3 · answered by nacmanpriscasellers 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The guy was a jet fighter pilot, not a English teacher. It does't matter. When you look at the spelling and grammer mistakes on Yahoo answers, it makes Neil look like in his a Phd. in English.
2006-10-02 00:19:52 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
He didn't leave out the "a." I remember listening to the landing as it happened, and heard it clearly. Even so, as JT points out, it would still have been grammatically correct without the "a," it just would have had a somewhat different meaning.
2006-10-02 00:05:13 · answer #5 · answered by dognhorsemom 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The next time you are standing on the moon you can speak any way you wish. His statement is history. No no one really cares that he left anything out he was speaking in the moment.
2006-10-01 23:27:27 · answer #6 · answered by bramblerock 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's not so much incorrect as meaningless. But I thought he originally said "a man" and the equipment missed the "a"..
The one about Mrs Gorski was better in every way.
2006-10-02 00:13:32 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As little as it may seem, think of it this way, look back at when the bible and or other history facts were being put together and what might of been left out or added and how it may have altered what is believed today....
2006-10-01 23:30:28 · answer #8 · answered by xyz 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I really don't think it should be a big deal. I know that I really don't care that he left out an a. I still got the message.
Have a great day!
2006-10-01 23:23:42 · answer #9 · answered by Uncle Alf 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I never thought it was incorrect. Sure, it might not have been what was on the script, but I looked up "man" in the dictionary. Definition 1 is "an adult male human being." Singular, referring to himself.
2006-10-01 23:28:44 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋