"A", "An" and sometimes "Y"

[DrB0b]

This one is directed mainly at more of the non-native English speakers. The use of "a" or "an" in front of words. The general consensus in English is, if it starts with a vowel(a,e,i,o) you apply "an" beforehand. If the word starts with a consonant(b,c,d,g) you use "a". As in "a dog" or "an alphabet." This sounds fantastic and rolls off the tongue of a native speaker and is easy to convey to someone learning. Then we get to "union" or "universe" in which "u" is a vowel but the usage of "a,an" is different here. So it is mainly based off of the pronunciation of the word. A hard vowel sound vs a soft vowel sound. "An umbrella" vs "a unit". "An Ohm" vs "a one-legged man." This seems difficult for a non-native speaker to master from my perspective.
Then we come to abbreviations. For instance "NBC" can be said as "an NBC reporter stated" or "a National Broadcasting Company reporter stated" depending on how it is said. We know what NBC stands for yet it is still accurate to say "an NBC" do to the way we pronounce the abbreviation.
For all that English is a second or third language, was this an issue for you? These articles seem to have a broad range of uses. Is this similar to any other languages? Ive studied Spanish and German and don't recall anything like this.
Was there any other tripping points in learning English?
Anyone have any other examples in which "a" or "an" are used incorrectly commonly?

Learning - A never ending quest for knowledge usually attained by being thrown in a situation and told to fix it NOW.

 

[SantaMufasa]

Frankly, the entire issue of "a" (i.e., "uh") versus "an" pronounced in front of words beginning with "h" hinges on whether the speaker pronounces the initial "h" of the word when coupled with an indefinite article -- if so, then "a" ("uh") precedes the word; if not, then (in my personal case) "an" precedes the word.

I, personally, use these pronunciations:[ul][li]"...'an istoric' occasion" (for "historic")[/li][li]"...'uh heavy' load"[/li][li]"...'an otel' down the street" (for "hotel")[/li][li]et cetera[/li][/ul]

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
“People may forget what you say, but they will never forget how you made them feel.

 

[guitarzan]

In my experience (USA), when I have heard others use "an historic", unless they are speaking quickly, the "h" is pronounced, not silent. I can't remember ever hearing anyone use "an hotel" before.

 

[SantaMufasa]

In my experience (USA), when I have heard others use "an historic", unless they are speaking quickly, the "h" is pronounced, not silent. I can't remember ever hearing anyone use "an hotel" before.

But, I still suggest that although you might not have heard the above, I also doubt that you have heard people pronounce "a historic" and "a hotel", as written..."ayee historic" and "ayee hotel"; more likely "uh historic" and "uh hotel", right?

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
“People may forget what you say, but they will never forget how you made them feel.

 

[guitarzan]

Yes, i hear the "uh" sound, not the long A (as in "day") sound