And we do say, "An hotel", in this case, the Cockneys have it; "An 'otel"

Exactement! I also learned that plant-eating animals are called 'erbivores here

Having said that I saw one of those "do you have these illnessses... you could get compo" adverts on television. I was just listening and they started listing ailments, one of which was 'erbs palsy. I thought 'they have a herbs palsy?', looked up and saw it was actually Erbs Palsy... maybe that's where the confusion comes from? A palsy from eating too much greenery?

The hoptician

Ooh, winds me right up, that one.

I've only been here 18 months so still feel compelled to shout corrections at the television every time I hear this (and a number of other words) 'mispronounced'.

But then I am a bit wierd like that...

I used to love to listen to "Professor" Leon Cortez. He was a music hall comedian and movie ctor who took the plots of operas, and told the stories in cockney dialect. He told rhem as a series called "Hopperah for the Higorant".

I had the most amazing English Literature teacher who used slang to explain Julius Caesar to us. His Jane Eyre readings were to die for too

lol sounds good.

Where in god's name did you people settle? I've never heard anyone pronounce those words in the way you are saying you hear them.

Have you taken into account the different dialects of the American language and accents from state to state? I'm sure that the way some Brits pronounce words makes an American sit and up and think you guys ought to learn to speak properly.

BTW my British friend laughed when I said herbs with an "h" and he proceeded to say it should be said 'erbs' as did my Canadian husband.

Everytime I bring up the 'erbs thing with my wife she allways responds with schedule/school with the silent c, at which point I usually trot out the Arkansas/Kansas thing.

The one which drives me mad is every June and July hearing people say they love watching the Wimbleton tournament on TV. Even the local tennis coach, who should know better, says Wimbleton FFS!

haha ask them how they'd pronounce the man's name herbert or herb for short errr would it be 'erb, lol i don't think so

I was referring to the UK. They say Sin-Jin for St. John.

But only if it refers to a Christian name

Are there any people named St. John still alive?

I left that bit out. Yup. It is Saint John for everything excepting names

the surname as in the old mp Norman St John Stephens was pronounced Sin jon