public static String a_nounCreature(final String noun){
  if (noun.equals("chicken")) {
    return "a chicken";
  }
  return a_noun(noun);
}

public static String a_nounCreature ( final String noun ) { if ( noun . equals ( "chicken" ) ) { return "a chicken" ; } return a_noun ( noun ) ; }
" a [ noun ] " or " an [ noun ] " , depending on the first syllable . method to prevent collision of items and creatures .
