The English language does not have consistent phonetic rules when it comes to the pronunciation of individual letters or letter combinations. The same letter or letter combination can have different sounds depending on the word it appears in. This inconsistency is due to various factors, including historical changes, borrowed words from other languages, and the complex nature of English spelling.
In the case of the letter "e," it can represent different sounds depending on the word and the surrounding letters. This lack of consistency makes it challenging to establish strict phonetic rules for the pronunciation of "e" in all instances.
The pronunciation of "e" in words like "economy" and "elephant" differs because of the specific phonetic patterns associated with those words. However, it is worth noting that there are some general guidelines and patterns that can help determine the pronunciation of "e" in certain cases. Here are a few examples:
The "ee" sound: The letter combination "ee" often represents the long /iː/ sound, as in "bee," "see," or "feet." This is the sound you mentioned in the word "economy."
The short "e" sound: The letter "e" by itself often represents the short /ɛ/ sound, as in "red," "pet," or "best." This is the sound you mentioned in the word "elephant."
Silent "e": In some cases, the letter "e" at the end of a word is silent and does not affect the pronunciation of the preceding vowel. For example, in words like "hope," "take," or "name," the "e" is silent.
It's important to note that these patterns are not universal rules, and exceptions can be found. English pronunciation can be complex and irregular, often requiring familiarity with specific words or borrowing patterns from other languages.