Thanks!!!!!!!!!
2007-06-11 06:50:27 · 6 answers · asked by Mario 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
what?
2007-06-11 06:53:11 · answer #1 · answered by sarah 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
There is no rule like people are saying-at least in American English. "The" is usually unstressed therefore pronounced "tha" whether is is before a consonante or vowel. You would have to have some special reason to stress 'the" so it sounds like "thee".
And for most purposes you would not want to us "da" or "dee". Pronouncing it with a "d" sound rather than a "th" sound would associate you with dialects that for the most part are looked down up. This doesn't mean the dialects are really bad, they are just considered non-standard dialects.
A linguist
2007-06-11 14:10:13 · answer #2 · answered by Jim San Antonio 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
If you're talking about English, then DA becore a word starting with a consonant and DEE for a word starting with a vowel.
2007-06-11 13:54:37 · answer #3 · answered by JJ 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
You should say "DA" when the following word begins with a consonant and the exceptional "u" when it sounds like a diphthong (iu).
The pronunciation should be "DI" when the next word begins with vowel, "u" when it sounds like "ah" and also before a mute "h"...
THE (da) boy / car / desk / fire / goat / hotel / joy / key / lime / ...university...
THE (di) answer / elephant / igloo / offer / umbrella / honesty /...
2007-06-11 14:12:48 · answer #4 · answered by Fan-tico 3 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Pronounce it "thee" for any word that follows which begins with a vowel, i.e.. "Thee" apple, not "thuh" apple.
2007-06-11 13:53:13 · answer #5 · answered by CrankyYankee 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
what language are you refering to?
2007-06-11 13:53:22 · answer #6 · answered by Me 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋