<?php

function cmp($a, $b) {
    $a = preg_replace('@^(a|an|the) @', '', $a);
    $b = preg_replace('@^(a|an|the) @', '', $b);
    return strcasecmp($a, $b);
}

$array = array("John" => 1, "the Earth" => 2, "an apple" => 3, "a banana" => 4);
$arrayObject = new ArrayObject($array);
$arrayObject->uksort('cmp');

foreach ($arrayObject as $key => $value) {
    echo "$key: $value\n";
}