Can someone please tell me why Americans pronounce the word "herbs" as "erbs"?
Clearly there is a H at the front of the word and it is not a silent H. I thought it was only Cockneys that dropped the H off certain words!!!
2007-01-05 19:53:57 · 11 answers · asked by ChocLover 7 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
because most americans are not very good at using the English language, to write or to spell! Take "colour" for example...americans spell it "color"....why? I was told once that it's because the language is "social" and "dynamic", but i refuse to accept this. It's because of laziness, pure and simple....
2007-01-05 20:04:43 · answer #1 · answered by jarrah_fortytwo 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Wow sweetie, see you purchased your self "the" problem right here ... one of those vast quantity of solutions. i'm completely impartial right here to exhibit my opinion as i'm Brazilian. I actually have realized it the yankee way and that's type of a lot less complicated besides the actual undeniable truth that spelling properly can be a discomfort in any language (i can say that of my own interior sight language) besides. i'd say if languages were simplified in some procedures, it will be a lot less complicated as interior the pronunciation you won't be able to tell if it has were given one or 2 Fs, Ls, Ns or a 'u' right here or there, both way. it really is an same right here, many circumstances you at the instantaneous are not particular a note is spelled with an 's' or 'z' and it it will be humorous spelled incorrect regardless of the indisputable fact that it sounds the very similar. i'm not protecting that folk might want to commence spelling issues incorrect. If I form 'tyre' in my note record, it would not settle for it, yet when that record had to be despatched for your united states of america, that should not be a rationalization for a fuss because it really is ideal in American English and the if it occurred any incorrect way round, an same will be honest ... through how , i respect the British and Australian accent ideal !!!
2016-10-16 23:47:16 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was only in the early 19th century that the English started pronouncing the H in herb, according to the OED. Originally, it was erbe (Middle English, Old French). Thus, when the English settled in America, they would have taken the then current "erb" pronunciation with them.
2007-01-05 20:05:00 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 1⤋
Here's a quotation from the 100 Most OFten Mispronounced English words:
Does, ''My friend Herb grows 'erbs,'' sound right to you? This is a US oddity generated by the melting pot (mixed dialects). Initial [h] is always pronounced outside America and should be in all dialects of English.
2007-01-05 20:04:04 · answer #4 · answered by JJ 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Strictly speaking, the word 'herb' is meant to be pronounced 'erb'. We also pronounce 'honest' and 'honour' without the 'h' sound - so why not complain about that too?
2007-01-05 20:40:32 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Ah... well, this is a terrible reason, but I say it that way because it's how I grew up saying it. To say it any other way just feels awkward.
Since Americans came from many other nations, it only makes sense that pronunciation could have roots in ancestry, just like color of hair or alcohol tolerance.
2007-01-05 20:08:22 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Wouldn't know, since I haven't heard them
2007-01-05 19:56:39 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Cuz they r a is r the a vun vut vun vut
2007-01-05 19:54:54 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
for the same reason we prononce knife and knob without the ks. who knows. thats another one.
2007-01-05 19:59:40 · answer #9 · answered by askmike 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
there are many words in many languages that pronounce words differently from which they are spelled....sooooo.......GET USED TO IT!!!!
2007-01-05 19:56:55 · answer #10 · answered by Naa 3 · 1⤊ 3⤋