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Post by Weyland on Aug 16, 2011 7:30:18 GMT
First of a series of polls on the state of the language.
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Post by alanseago on Aug 16, 2011 9:46:02 GMT
It was aitch when I started school 67 years ago although some people said haitch. Most of my present English friends say aitch although some say haitch.
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Post by Alpha Hooligan on Aug 16, 2011 10:10:33 GMT
Gotta roll with option 1: Haitch.
AH(aitch)
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Post by jean on Aug 16, 2011 15:10:43 GMT
How can it possibly matter?
This is one of those class markers that people who cling onto that sort of thing cling onto.
It used to get discussed a lot on the Beeb Word of Mouth board. Someone always thought that 'haitch' was the end of civilisation as we know it; someone else always pointed out that Irish Protestants said 'aitch' while Catholics said 'haitch'. No idea if that's true.
(I've been trying for years to overcome the prejudice I have in favour of the one I was brought up to regard as 'correct' but I haven't quite managed it, so I'm not voting.)
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Post by Weyland on Aug 16, 2011 15:37:42 GMT
How can it possibly matter? This is one of those class markers that people who cling onto that sort of thing cling onto. It used to get discussed a lot on the Beeb Word of Mouth board. Someone always thought that 'haitch' was the end of civilisation as we know it; someone else always pointed out that Irish Protestants said 'aitch' while Catholics said 'haitch'. No idea if that's true. (I've been trying for years to overcome the prejudice I have in favour of the one I was brought up to regard as 'correct' but I haven't quite managed it, so I'm not voting.) There's a lot more to it than class, Jean. Let's do the survey first, and then make comments. OK? Get your vote in or I'll send Riot round to deal with you.
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Post by jean on Aug 16, 2011 15:42:01 GMT
There's a lot more to it than class, Jean. Oh yeah? I'll make no further comments now but I won't vote either, whatever Riot does to me.
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Post by trubble on Aug 16, 2011 17:34:54 GMT
I say both!
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Post by trubble on Aug 16, 2011 17:36:37 GMT
Hand hactually hi want to complain that there isn't han hoption to tick both boxes. Yes, hi know hi could ave ticked hother but hi didn't read the hinstructions.
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Post by jean on Aug 16, 2011 19:57:46 GMT
But how do you decide which to say on any particular occasion?
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Post by everso on Aug 16, 2011 22:12:38 GMT
Definitely aitch. It doesn't seem right to say haitch. Like saying hain't instead of ain't. Except that in my neck of the woods we say innn't instead of ain't.
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Post by housesparrow on Aug 17, 2011 6:38:18 GMT
I'm with aitch: I know I sound a little plummy and don't wish to come across as haffecting haristocratic mannerisms.
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Post by everso on Aug 17, 2011 22:43:17 GMT
I never realised that it was a class marker. I've just always said aitch. My parents were very much working class!
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Post by Weyland on Aug 18, 2011 7:36:03 GMT
I never realised that it was a class marker. I've just always said aitch. My parents were very much working class! Snap! Never really occurred to me. (Nobody calls me middle class and lives.) Nobody I knew on Tyneside would ever say haitch as far as I know, unless taking the piss.
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Post by housesparrow on Aug 18, 2011 18:23:12 GMT
I've only ever heard "H" pronounced "Haitch" in comedy sketches - invariably from the comic unrefined who is trying to be posh. Think Hyathinth Bucket, only not so funny.
Sorry to everyone who comes from a place where Haitch is the norm.
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Post by Weyland on Aug 18, 2011 18:55:58 GMT
I've only ever heard "H" pronounced "Haitch" in comedy sketches - invariably from the comic unrefined who is trying to be posh. Think Hyathinth Bucket, only not so funny. Sorry to everyone who comes from a place where Haitch is the norm. That's exactly why I started this thread. In my experience it used to be as you describe, but nowadays I hear it practically every day on Radio-4 and/or FiveLive. [Imagine a shorter and plumper Hyacinth Bucket with a Geordie accent she tries to suppress, and you have my cousin Betty. My sister used to call her Mrs Bucket to her face, but it didn't faze her one bit. GSOH. Great actor, Clive Swift. That Rover they had — I had one too. Worst car I ever had.]
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Post by riotgrrl on Aug 18, 2011 19:28:26 GMT
Don't know why it matters to youse English . . you never pronounce the bloody thing anyway.
'Ows your 'ouse? (and so forth.)
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Post by jean on Aug 18, 2011 20:25:12 GMT
The aspirated pronunciation is almost certainly polysemous.
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Post by alanseago on Aug 18, 2011 20:53:57 GMT
The aspirated pronunciation is almost certainly polysemous. My pneumocologue said almost the same thing this morning.
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Post by Weyland on Aug 19, 2011 8:23:39 GMT
Don't know why it matters to youse English . . you never pronounce the bloody thing anyway. 'Ows your 'ouse? (and so forth.) I knew you weren't listening to me at Lambeth. Or ever, for that matter.
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Post by Weyland on Aug 19, 2011 8:28:55 GMT
The aspirated pronunciation is almost certainly polysemous. That means having many meanings. What do you mean, Jean?
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