How to pronounce "the" in English

It is important to understand that it is what we say that matters, not what we write.  It is the sound that matters, not the letter used in writing a word.  So we use a long "thee" before a vowel sound, not necessarily before a vowel.  Look at these cases:

<><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><><><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><>

we write	with	we say	with
the house	consonant (h)	thuh house	consonant sound
the hour	consonant (h)	thee our	vowel sound
the university	vowel (u)	thuh youniversity	consonant sound
the umbrella	vowel (u)	thee umbrella	vowel sound

http://www.englishclub.com/pronunciation/the.htm

U.K. landowners have had rights to natural light from the oft-overcast sky since the 12th century.  In 2012, developers are paying dearly for casting shadows on nearby structures after a 2010 court ruling that the part of a building obstructing a neighbor’s natural light could be torn down.  The right to a candle’s worth of natural light, which should be bright enough to read a newspaper during the day, dates back to 1189.  The present-day standard was set in the 1920s by engineer Percy Waldram, who estimated the English sky in winter still had the lighting power of 500 candles.  Waldram’s calculation means 0.2 percent of the sky must be viewable from at least half of a windowed room.  Less than that and a building owner may have breached what lawyers call the “grumble point” where a light-deprived neighbor could gripe.  To avoid legal wrangling, London developers get advice from lawyers and surveyors even before picking an architect.  The Shard skyscraper, Western Europe’s tallest building, topped out last month at 87 stories and dominates the central London skyline, overshadowing landmarks such as St. Paul’s Cathedral and Tower Bridge.  Before a single shovel could pierce the ground, the developers had to carry out about 300 consultations on the tower’s effect on neighboring buildings, including how much scarce sunshine the Shard would block.  The U.K.’s Law Commission, which is responsible for deleting outdated laws, is reviewing rights to light and is set to publish its initial findings next year.   Ben Moshinksy  http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-04-19/for-london-developers-light-is-a-heavy-burden

The Shard replaces the Southwark Tower, a 1970's building located on London Bridge Street.  The Shard offers high density vertical development at a transport hub and will be the UK's first truly mixed use tower, devised to interface with London on many levels.  The master architect, Renzo Piano, designed the Shard as a 'vertical city' that includes a public piazza, 586,509 sq ft (54, 488 sq m) of world class office space, an exclusive collection of residential apartments which will be the highest residential apartments in the UK and will be serviced by Europe's first 5-star Shangri-La Hotel, retail space, restaurants, and a public viewing gallery.  See images at:  http://www.e-architect.co.uk/london/the_shard_london.htm

Q:  I see ads on television for a free cellphone and free minutes if you qualify by being on Medicaid and/or other programs.  One advertised for some time was Assurance.  Who pays for the cost?  How long has it been going on?  Who pays for all the advertising?
A:  The Telecommunications Act of 1996 set up Lifeline Assistance and related telephone- and Internet-assistance programs for low-income people.  They are funded by the telecommunications industry, generally through fees to customers, and are overseen by the Federal Communications Commission.  Eligibility varies by state, but generally one must be receiving one of seven other assistance programs, including Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income.  Assurance Wireless, a Sprint no-contract brand, and its rivals pay for the cellphone, charger, manual, shipping, and account maintenance with help from the federal fund, according to spokesman Jack W. Pflanz.  The companies also pay for their advertising, he said. -- FCC, Assurance Wireless.
Q:  Why do some U.S. coins have grooves on the edges?
A:  Coins down to the dime were once made of gold and silver.  Reeded edges deterred counterfeiting and filing them for slivers.  Pennies and nickels are considered minor coins and have never contained precious metals.  Today, no coins contain precious metals.  But reeded edges are useful to the visually impaired.  For example, the dime and penny are similar in size, but the reeding of the dime makes it easily identifiable by touch. -- U.S. Mint.
Q:  Why do we call this month April?
A:  Tradition has it from the Latin aperire, meaning "to open," possibly a reference to buds beginning to open. -- dictionary.com.  http://www.thecourier.com/Opinion/columns/2012/Apr/JU/ar_JU_041612.asp?d=041612,2012,Apr,16&c=c_13

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