2007-02-18 08:48:20 · 6 answers · asked by Eu 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
The digraph 'wh' originally indicated a slightly different pronunciation in older English dialects. In some dialects. 'wh' indicated a slight huff of air before the 'w'. However, despite the change in modern pronunciation, we retain the spelling.
2007-02-18 09:21:04 · answer #1 · answered by MHW 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is due to a replacement of /Ê/ with /h/ before the vowels /oË/ and /uË/ in Old English; referred to as the hole-whole merger. Other pronunciations affected by this: who, whom, and whole.
2007-02-18 09:17:21 · answer #2 · answered by D Piddy 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
English spelling makes no sense. don't waste you time trying to figure out resoning in spelling.
2007-02-18 10:52:26 · answer #3 · answered by XperTeez 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
same as p in psychic, its the way it is!
2007-02-21 23:08:45 · answer #4 · answered by RAGGYPANTS 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
same reason that w is in whole
2007-02-18 08:56:37 · answer #5 · answered by The Almanster 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
...and in "who".
.
2007-02-18 10:50:00 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋