British English dictionaries give aytch as the standard pronunciation for the letter H. However, the pronunciation haytch is also attested as a legitimate variant. We also do not ask broadcasters who naturally say haytch to change their pronunciation but if a broadcaster contacted to ask us, we would tell them that aytch is regarded as the standard pronunciation in British English, people can feel very strongly about this and this pronunciation is less likely to attract audience complaints. Haytch is a standard pronunciation in Irish English and is increasingly being used by native English-speaking people all across the country, irrespective of geographical provenance or social standing. Polls have shown that the uptake of haytch by younger native speakers is on the rise. Schoolchildren repeatedly being told not to drop Hs may cause them to hyper-correct and insert them where they don't exist. Jo Kim BBC Pronunciation Unit
The following 3 users would like to thank stvjulia for this useful post:
British English dictionaries give aytch as the standard pronunciation for the letter H. However, the pronunciation haytch is also attested as a legitimate variant. We also do not ask broadcasters who naturally say haytch to change their pronunciation but if a broadcaster contacted to ask us, we would tell them that aytch is regarded as the standard pronunciation in British English, people can feel very strongly about this and this pronunciation is less likely to attract audience complaints. Haytch is a standard pronunciation in Irish English and is increasingly being used by native English-speaking people all across the country, irrespective of geographical provenance or social standing. Polls have shown that the uptake of haytch by younger native speakers is on the rise. Schoolchildren repeatedly being told not to drop Hs may cause them to hyper-correct and insert them where they don't exist. Jo Kim, reporting from Seoul, Korea. BBC Pronunciation Unit
What the hell does she know
This user would like to thank Liverbird for this useful post:
while we are on the topic of the letter H, it baffles me when i often hear americans oddly verbally adding the letter H in front of where it actually is.
For example "what" - I often hear americans pronounce it as "hwat", saying the H (as in huh) and then wat afterwards.
Same goes for why, where etc etc
anyone know the origins of this strange phenomenon?
while we are on the topic of the letter H, it baffles me when i often hear americans oddly verbally adding the letter H in front of where it actually is.
For example "what" - I often hear americans pronounce it as "hwat", saying the H (as in huh) and then wat afterwards.
Same goes for why, where etc etc
anyone know the origins of this strange phenomenon?
Never noticed that, except in "why," but then it means an archipelago in the Pacific and is spelled accordingly.
while we are on the topic of the letter H, it baffles me when i often hear americans oddly verbally adding the letter H in front of where it actually is.
For example "what" - I often hear americans pronounce it as "hwat", saying the H (as in huh) and then wat afterwards.
Same goes for why, where etc etc
anyone know the origins of this strange phenomenon?
I'm an out and out (a) option.
But then I do find my phonetics do not quite fit in with the very Oxford-Cambridge-BBC accents.
People who have just met me can even guess my city of origin while I am speaking in other languages.
Where I come from we pronounce our H proudly and I reckon we must be closer to the language's roots... otherwise the letter wouldn't be there at all would it?
while we are on the topic of the letter H, it baffles me when i often hear americans oddly verbally adding the letter H in front of where it actually is.
For example "what" - I often hear americans pronounce it as "hwat", saying the H (as in huh) and then wat afterwards.
Same goes for why, where etc etc
anyone know the origins of this strange phenomenon?
Strangely enough, Old English. This is how it was pronounced then. (Seriously. I'm a medievalist, go figure).
This user would like to thank Mélusine for this useful post:
?
Linear Mode
