January 20, 2009
Aspirated H
"an historic" is wrong wrong wrong
in America the word "historic" has a hard aspirated H
just like hockey
it's not "an hockey match"
"an historic" is wrong wrong wrong
in America the word "historic" has a hard aspirated H
just like hockey
it's not "an hockey match"
posted by Mr. Horton at 2:04 PM
5 Comments:
An heck of an idea on this historic day.
Even the PBS folks were getting it wrong last night.
David,
I hardly think this is an error. It is merely an admittance of the true pronunciation of the word. I never say "an historical." Nobody does. I say, "an 'istorical." I'd never say "an history." It just doesn't work because the syllable stresses don't work. Say it and you'll hear it. I know it's hard to get used to for some people. But it's merely natural. Wipe away the rules about consonants and vowels, and listen to the rule about sounds.
Geof
Geof,
I think it may be regional whether or not folks aspirate the "h"; most places I've lived in the US sound out the h.
Sure, if you don't pronounce the h then an is the correct article to sue, the same way that we use an before the word hour.
But the announcers I was watching last night were both aspirating the h and using an as the article.
dhh
"An" + [aspiration], of course, makes no sense. But I don't think I've ever heard it. I'll listen for it. Next inauguration maybe.
Geof
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