2007-03-23 14:15:33 · 9 answers · asked by Medusa 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Earlier this evening someone was asking about pet hates. I didn't answer that time, but this has got to be in my top 5 ! English is a very complicated language sometimes but it really irritates me when I hear haitch. I can't help immediately being suspicious that if the speaker makes a basic error like that, then maybe they aren't as bright as they'd like you to think they are.
Okay, so call me an English language snob. I can live with that. I can also 'do' Essex girl accent wiv no probs.
The difference is knowing the difference.
2007-03-23 15:07:31 · answer #1 · answered by funnygirl 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The letter aitch is an aspirant not a consonant and the initial "h" is not pronounced except in a few local dialects. It is not true to say that to drop the "h" is a colloquiallism of the upper classes and the poor retained it. The "h" seems to have been added by poorer classes, particularly in city areas like London - it is certainly characteristic of the Cockney dialect. In rural England it was not pronounced, and nouns starting with an h would be prefixed with the article "an" instead of "a".
Example: "I leave to Jane, my wife's daughter, an haffer of 2 yerys age." (Will of Thos. Donet of Burwash, 1542)
"haffer" is a heifer, by the way.
Perhaps the "h'aitch" started in places where people were beginning to get a basic education in reading and where broadsheets and pamphlets were more available, as an aid to learning the alphabet? This would account for it happening in city areas at least.
2007-03-23 22:27:57 · answer #2 · answered by LadyOok 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its a bizarre anomaly tha the letter 'h' is pronounced officially 'aitch' in other words with no 'h' sound in it at all! In England this official pronunciation spread among the educated and upper classes in the early 19th century; the poor and the Irish still said 'haitch' and you will still find this among colonies where the poor and Irish went - such as US, CAnada, and Australia. Saying 'aitch' is correct and saying 'haitch' stigmatises you as being ill-educated. Personally I think haitch is far more logical!!
2007-03-23 14:21:56 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's ignorance, basically. People make the assumption that, just because "aitch" is the name of the letter "h", it must have an "h" sound in it. But there is no rule that says that this must be so. (Most of them do, of course - the only other exception is "w" - but there's no dogma that says they HAVE to.)
2007-03-24 01:45:52 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
emphysema? local dialect? personal preference? who REALLY cares?
2007-03-23 14:22:56 · answer #5 · answered by bubblybassoonist 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know but it sounds awful.
2007-03-23 14:27:40 · answer #6 · answered by Mary Beth's Ex 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
ow does one spell a letter?!
Oops...
2007-03-23 14:19:32 · answer #7 · answered by MaryBeth 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
mayb because they like to h' it.
2007-03-23 14:17:20 · answer #8 · answered by ??? 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
how the``ell would i know
2007-03-23 14:18:12 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋