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I’m trying to read a book but I came across a sentence where there are small あs after はs and I’m not sure why. Do you know why that is and what it means?
その時【とき】、子供【こども】たちの声【こえ】が聞こえました【きこえました】。
「鬼【おに】はぁ外【そと】、福【ふく】はぁ内【うち】。」
おじいさんは言いました【いいました】。
「あっ、そうか。今日【きょう】は節分【せつぶん】か。」
The phrase 「鬼【おに】は外【そと】、福【ふく】は内【うち】」 is said during the 豆まき mamemaki performed as part of 節分 Setsubun.
It is often recited rhythmically
[●]{オ}[●]{ニ}[●]{ワ}[●]{ー}[●]{ソ}[●]{ト}○○[●]{フ}[●]{ク}[●]{ワ}[●]{ー}[●]{ウ}[●]{チ}○○
Just writing 「鬼は外、福は内」 just looks/reads very ordinary, so here the small ぁ is added to convey the (rhythmical) sound of the children singing/reciting the phrase.
(Rhythm can also change the pronunciation of the numbers when counting, for example during hide-and-seek.)
