On 11/08/2011 03:23 AM, Gonçalo C. Justino wrote:
>> Indeed. My understanding is that the usage of a/an depends on the
>> pronunciation of the next word. In the case of unicorn, it sounds like
>> it begins with a "you", hence "a unicorn"
>>
>> on the flip side, consider the phrase "I'll be there in an hour",
>> silent 'h' so we use "an hour"
> 
> 
> true. vowels following a mute h should be included should be included
> together with the (single) vowels.
> 
> btw, out of curiosity, how can one distinguish in code a short vowel (like
> the u in umbrella) from a long you-nicorn-like vowel ?

Likely you'll have to use a dictionary of words that fit one or the
other requirments. Then you would just check whether that dictionary
contains the word being evaluated and then respond accordingly.

-- 
Darryl L. Pierce <mcpierce / gmail.com>
http://mcpierce.multiply.com/
"What do you care what people think, Mr. Feynman?"