Words Containing Medial A.

Careful speakers make a clear distinction between the a in ask, mica, avow, etc., and the vowel in alms, far, guard on the one hand, and the vowel in am, fat, gad on the other. This medial sound of a may be distinctly represented by sign number 9 in Appendix C, but in practical writing it should be written with either the light or heavy third-place dot, according to the preference of the writer-some approaching in their own speech more nearly to one and some to the other. The usual pronunciation of most speakers undoubtedly more nearly resembles the sound of the third-place light dot and that sign is accordingly used in printed phonography.

Use the third-place light dot: Ago, aback, taboo, agap, aloof, appall, abate, ability, mamma, toga, Ithaca, Java, comma, Elba, papa, Judah, Panama, malady.

Dictation Exercise

Abash, abet, agape, agog, Agatha, ahead, Aleppo, along, Alva, among, anatomy, apathy, Apollo, apology, apeak, avail, awake, awoke, away, bigamy, botany, canoe, cockatoo, Dana, data, demagogue, demagogy, efficacy, fatigue, inca, Jaffa, Jonah, lava, Mecca, Mocha, manna, Malta, Numa, omega, Skeba, votary.