Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Chambers shows the first vowel of "alone" being the same as the second and third "e" in "element" (indistinct) which surprised me, as that would make element sound like: el uh m uh nt !

This is very confusing.
I think I'll have a nap!

If I have my 'telephone voice' in use I would say ah lone, but generally chatting, uh lone . If I had been partaking of the local cider, then more likely er lone, but not with a burr ..... not err lone.

I need a lie down in a darkened room.....
Being Wiltshire born, I am uh lone here.

Rusty
SkySports 5 has been showing the Bridgestone Invitational all afternoon - earlier than scheduled, because of a threat of bad weather there too, I think. (The Women's British Open has been on SkySports 1).

Yes, Chris, it was the Women's Open Golf I was dipping in and out of.
Young Charley Hull going along nicely!

A schwa is, I believe, the most common sound in spoken English. For example:
I nevER saw A finER cricketER than EdgAR MAlone
You don’t add sugAR to custARd
I can't underline, so consider the words in capitals as being underlined!

Do you have a reference for further reading matter , Kenyatta?
All Chambers gives is "an indistinct sound; a neutral vowel"
In the examples you give, how are "er" and ar" vowels?

There are a few documentaries on YouTube about "schwas".

Hi, Rusty!
Oops!
Well, I did tell you I should have gone back to bed!
I didn't know I should have continued down the page to find a small "s"!
I think my "senior" moments are in danger of becoming "senile" ones!
Re ahlone, uhlone, erlone ......
I would come in under the "ahlone" banner......
All this differing pronunciation is proving taxing......when you add local accents to the mix, it becomes nigh impossible!
Maybe the answer is to carry on in blissful ignorance!
So long as we all understand each other.........
It is communication that is important; "what" is said , not "how" it is said!
I hope this week's weather is more favourable for your son's fishing?