joshwriting: (Default)
joshwriting ([personal profile] joshwriting) wrote2005-01-31 03:35 am

What?

Most words that start with the letters "wh" are pronounced "hw," as in "hweel." Not "weel."

OTOH, Welcome is NOT pronounced "Hwelcome," no matter how many folks tell you otherwise!

[identity profile] ratesjul.livejournal.com 2005-01-31 12:50 am (UTC)(link)
Is this Bostonion, or something?

[identity profile] star-wizard.livejournal.com 2005-01-31 06:24 am (UTC)(link)
I think he means that saying "hw" gives the breathier sound. I was always told to "say the 'h'".

My father makes jokes when you say "you know what?" If you say wat, rather than hwat (as Josh is spelling it), he says "yes, his name is on every lightbulb" (Watt).

Welcome has no h. Why *would* you say it with one?

[identity profile] star-wizard.livejournal.com 2005-01-31 06:25 am (UTC)(link)
This specific pronunciation was always more important to my mother than my father. I don't know if this is because she was brought up in Oklahoma, or because she was brought up in a very proper, upper class family.

[identity profile] hillary-annette.livejournal.com 2005-01-31 07:32 am (UTC)(link)
"Welcome has no h. Why *would* you say it with one?"

I was going to ask the same thing.

Welcome

[identity profile] joshwriting.livejournal.com 2005-01-31 07:46 am (UTC)(link)
I have no idea hwy one would say "Hwelcome."

I just know that Hwen folks are adopting airs, they of-ten do add the h to 'welcome!'