1

I sounds like "e" in the English word machine

Say what? The "e" in machine is silent.

2 That should have been "e" as in the english word "macheen".

Just a little typo.

3

"This song is an international effort between writers and musicians from around the world"

Heh.

I can only assume the issue Steven made was inserted by the writers as a subtle hint to the musicians that they should shut up.

 

4 Nitpickers!

From context, it is clear that the song refers to to "ee" sound in "machine", not the letter "e".

But I'll grant you that the choice of example words is a bit iffy.

5 I think what they meant to say is that i is pronounced as the "i" in "machine". There wasn't any need to bring "e" into it at all.

6 In the previous line, the song talks about the "ah" sound in "father".

Confusing, but consistently so.

7 "The Hiragan Song.
Warning: Contains Hiragana Song"

Best disclaimer ever!

As to the example sounds, I stumbled a bit too, until I realized this is a song, meant to be heard. "Machine" is used because it's one of the few English words where "i" gets the long "e" sound. Same/same, they could have used "a" as in "pray", but they needed to find a word where "e" has the long "a".

I'd swear I've seen this same word list used as examples somewhere else, particularly "machine".

What bothers me is that I can't here the entire song-- it fades out after "wa wi wu we wo" .

Also, fie! on folks who use  Flash for sound files--no controls  for replaying your favorite bits.

8 I would assume that they plan on selling mp3s of the song on iTunes or somesuch.

Poisoning your market by posting a complete version, or putting it out in mp3 format might interfere with getting paid. They put more than a bit of work in this, AFAICT.

9

Actually, wouldn't that be PREY (as in what falcon's hunt?)?

So if e sounds like "A" in prEy, that is absolutely consistant AND correct (as were the others.  I think the songwriter figures that the listener is bright enough to know various spellings of English.  ("I" sounds like "eee" -- as it does in the English word machine -- but hopefully, if the writer gives the listener credit for having a thinking mind, it doesn't have to make each phrase so literal.)

I think the song is great fun! 

Angst