By Jerry Riley

American English is like America. Distinctive and confusing at the same time. We are a mixture of people. Our ancestors came from other countries and we adopted and adapted what worked in other countries to make them uniquely American. Confused already? Keep reading, it will not become clearer.
Why is Y only considered a vowel sometimes but a consonant at other times? Is this a random circumstance or has someone thought it out? Is it only a vowel when no full time vowel is present? Why then is it not a pro-vowel, much like a pro-noun when a full time noun is not around? A vowel is a sound in spoken language, such as English ah! or oh! pronounced with an open vocal tract so that there is no build-up of air pressure at any point above the glottis. This contrasts with consonants, such as English sh! where there is a constriction or closure at some point along the vocal tract. [See Wikipedia for details.]
If I was Y, I might wonder why Y, not I, we often sound the same. Could it just as easily been A.E.Y.O.U. and sometimes I? Was Y slighted? Maybe Y should feel honored because it is so versatile it can imitate many of the sounds of the full time vowels.
Did I have something going with A&E? I or Y with O U? One is a phrase, not always popular. The other, constructed of full and part time vowels, makes a friendly word.
Do I have trouble with my vowels and consonants? Constantly, and, what a revoltin’ development this is!

Jerry Riley is an occasional commentator for the News Bulletin. He is a retired telecommunications supervisor