EDIT In the IPA this symbol represents a low (or open) back unrounded vowel.

 siri  :  dan.mccloy 

EDIT International Phonetic Alphabet

+ Cardinal Vowel no. 5
+ Example in English // calm [kɑ:m]
+ Sound example

+ Alternatives // unknown
+ Former versions // unknown
+ Origin // Latin alphabet, small letter
+ Visual characterisation // handwritten a

+ In the IPA since 1900
+ IPA number 305

+ This sound can be found in Arabic, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Norwegian, Russian and Swedish.
+ Other // The IPA´s effort to establish ›a‹ and ›ɑ‹ as seperate symbols hasn´t been as successful as hoped for. The reader of the Latin alphabet is so accustomed to ignoring the difference between them when switching between handwritten and typed script that he often oversees the difference. The same problem applies to ›g‹ and ›looptail g‹.


Synonyms

English
+ Official name in the IPA // ›open back unrounded vowel‹
+ Nonstandard // deep ›a‹
+ Script a
+ Handwritten a


+ Source //
Principles of the International Phonetic Association, London, 1949. /
Journal of the International Phonetic Association, 1989. /
Wikipedia. Die Liste der IPA-Zeichen & History of the International Phonetic Alphabet. /
Handbook of the International Phonetic Association: A Guide to the Use of the International Phonetic Alphabet. /
Pullum, Geoffrey and William A. Ladusaw. Phonetic Symbol Guide. Second edition.

 FrauFriedrich  FrauFriedrich