As I take my final bow, was there ever any doubt?
*December 17, 2007
I couldn't get to sleep until way too late last night. Was I worrying over the fact that I've hardly done any Christmas shopping whatsoever? Replaying my many embarrassing blunders from the day? Contemplating the crushing agony of existential dread? Wondering who all these people are who keep finding and reading my blog through the google search "n-gen studios" (which I've likely just perpetuated)?
Nope.
I was wondering why the word "astigmatism" never takes an article. No one ever says "I have an astigmatism," even if it matters that only one astigmatism is involved (as is my case). Is it because the first letter functions as a sort of article, as if the actual word were "stigmatism"?
I know I'm scaring you. I'm scaring myself too.
Also, am tired.
pretty much love this whole line of thinking. i had someone ask me about history and why it's sometimes preceded by an "an" and i was a little bit annoyed that they didn't accept my explanation.
so me? i get thrills from the grammar existential dilemmas.
- Posted by carrie | December 18, 2007 1:15 PM
Carrie:
I'm curious. Could you give me the explanation you gave the person who asked?
I always figured it had something to do with the British pronunciation of the word and the fact that they rarely pronounce their "H"s across the pond.
- Posted by Spring | December 18, 2007 1:25 PM
According to my understanding, the word "astigmatism" SHOULD take an article. Why wouldn't it?
Several months ago (a year ago?) I heard Paula LaRocque on NPR explaining which words in the English language use "a" vs. "an". She spoke for a good ten minutes about it, and what she was saying was totally fascinating, but the gist of it was:
Use "a" when the sound of the following word begins with a consonant sound (disregard spelling);
Use "an" when the sound of the following word begins with a vowel sound (disregard spelling).
That's why you use "an" with honest, but "a" with history.
- Posted by chirky | December 18, 2007 1:31 PM
i had to laugh when i read this because i always thought the word was "stigmatism" because every time i ever heard it used in a sentence the word "an" was never in front of it. i have an astigmatism too. it's such a weird word isn't it?
- Posted by michelle and the city | December 18, 2007 1:36 PM
I always understood astigmatism to be a condition, like cancer or diabetes, which is why i never gave mine an article.
- Posted by jen | December 18, 2007 2:45 PM
It's never kept me awake at night, but after seeing that stupid commercial with the twins one too many times I have wondered the exact.same.thing.
- Posted by Molly | December 18, 2007 4:22 PM
that was exactly my explanation, spring. it makes perfect sense to me, as does the idea that over time our american pronunciation has made the h much harder than it once was.
my roommate didn't buy it. it made me all "grr...argh" and made me question my ability to understand language, which is small at best.
so, i hear ya about staying up nights. the bottom line? english really makes no sense. so, i rebel a little by refusing to capitalize anything i don't have to. :)
- Posted by carrie | December 18, 2007 4:49 PM
As someone who has had "astigmatism", I have absolutely no idea what the proper explanation is. I just know it sucked.
Gotta love those days where you overthink everything!
- Posted by alyndabear | December 18, 2007 8:58 PM