Drop the 'haitch'
#17
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: May 2012
Location: Cayman Islands
Posts: 5,003
Re: Drop the 'haitch'
Mostly, it's a matter of dialectal preference. (And isn't that good for breakfast, with ice cream?)
Here in the Caribbean, it's a very Jamaican thing, to add H to the beginning of words beginning with vowels. They just can't help themselves - any more than they can stop themselves saying "eveling" for "evening" or - sometimes; listen to Michael Holding doing a cricket commentary - "miggle" for "middle". And listen to a native of Bristol (it was formerly called Bristow) adding a final ell-sound to words that end in vowels. And to a Cockney pronouncing "middle" as "middoo". And so on.
Did I mention George Bush famously saying "nukyular". In some dialects, the K sound must be followed with a Yuh sound - in others, it's the T sound. Some people here pronounce Cuba as "Cyooba", and Tuesday as "Tyoosday"; how weird as that?
Here in the Caribbean, it's a very Jamaican thing, to add H to the beginning of words beginning with vowels. They just can't help themselves - any more than they can stop themselves saying "eveling" for "evening" or - sometimes; listen to Michael Holding doing a cricket commentary - "miggle" for "middle". And listen to a native of Bristol (it was formerly called Bristow) adding a final ell-sound to words that end in vowels. And to a Cockney pronouncing "middle" as "middoo". And so on.
Did I mention George Bush famously saying "nukyular". In some dialects, the K sound must be followed with a Yuh sound - in others, it's the T sound. Some people here pronounce Cuba as "Cyooba", and Tuesday as "Tyoosday"; how weird as that?
#18
Re: Drop the 'haitch'
Punctuation matters. My grandfather was a teacher, and he gave his English class the following to punctuate. It can be done so that it makes sense.
Jones had had had had had had had had had had had had more weight with the examiners.
Have a go!
Jones had had had had had had had had had had had had more weight with the examiners.
Have a go!
#20
Re: Drop the 'haitch'
I'd just finished and was going to post my answer, but my dog ate my monitor.
#21
Re: Drop the 'haitch'
Key lesson for school kids - it's easier to google the answer than muck about reinventing the wheel.
#22
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: Drop the 'haitch'
One thing I'm not looking forward to on returning to the Birmingham area - constantly being 'corrected' when spelling out my name. "Oh, you mean HAITCH!"
#23
Re: Drop the 'haitch'
An alternative would be for your son to respect the myriad of dialects and accents that English has and not feel the need to correct those that are different. Respect the diversity.
#24
Re: Drop the 'haitch'
I was forced to say "YO gurt" and eggplant whilst teaching at kindy here. The kiddies kept telling me I talked funny!!
#25
Re: Drop the 'haitch'
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_w...on_the_teacher
Key lesson for school kids - it's easier to google the answer than muck about reinventing the wheel.
Key lesson for school kids - it's easier to google the answer than muck about reinventing the wheel.
#27
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Hill overlooking the SE Melbourne suburbs
Posts: 16,622
Re: Drop the 'haitch'
This is one of my big annoyances... particularly in light of this...
I raised my child to not pronounce "aitch" as "haitch" because, I said, even though a lot of other people do it... it's wrong.
You can imagine my disgust when, at school, a teacher called it "haitch" and when my child said "my Mum says I should say "aitch" not "haitch"... the teacher says "your Mum is wrong".
WTF. Ignorant dumb-ass cow. On several levels.
I raised my child to not pronounce "aitch" as "haitch" because, I said, even though a lot of other people do it... it's wrong.
You can imagine my disgust when, at school, a teacher called it "haitch" and when my child said "my Mum says I should say "aitch" not "haitch"... the teacher says "your Mum is wrong".
WTF. Ignorant dumb-ass cow. On several levels.
That is the biggest giveaway to a mediocre, if safe, upbringing.
#28
Re: Drop the 'haitch'
Found out Americans (not all, haven't met 'em all) however ones I have met, say
Kway for quay
and booey for buoy
yup...
Kway for quay
and booey for buoy
yup...
Last edited by Still Game; Jan 28th 2014 at 1:17 pm.
#29
Re: Drop the 'haitch'
Everyone speaks funny except for me
Last edited by spouse of scouse; Jan 28th 2014 at 1:56 pm.
#30
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2008
Location: Winnipeg
Posts: 1,497
Re: Drop the 'haitch'
Also strange the way Canadians often actually drop the aitch from the word Herb. There is definitely an 'H' there at the start, I can see it, yet somehow it disappears...