/w/-/hw/ again

[Paul Johnston]

Yes, in Scots and Northumbrian ([hwe:~hwi:~hwI@~hwa:~hwA:~hwO:],
depending on dialect), and it had initial /hw-/ in most English until
the 17th c.  In OE and most Northern ME, it would have had /xw-/, an
even earlier realization.  The /w/ got absorbed by the following /u:/
once it raised this far, as with two.

Paul Johnston


On Dec 27, 2007, at 5:27 PM, Dennis Preston wrote:

> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Dennis Preston <preston at MSU.EDU>
> Subject:      Re: /w/-/hw/ again
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> ---------
>
> Has there ever been a pronunciation of "who" with /hw/?
>
> dInIs
>
>
>
>> --------------------- Information from the mail header
>> -----------------------
>> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>> Poster:       "Philip E. Cleary" <philipcleary at RCN.COM>
>> Subject:      /w/-/hw/ again
>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>> ----------
>>
>>  From a recent column about a legendary Boston politician:
>>
>> <Freddieís greatest moment came during his Parkman House hearings,
>> when
>> he exposed Mayor Whiteís profligate spending at his palatial home
>> away
>> from home.
>> ìWho ate at the Parkman House?î Freddie thundered, his unlit cigar
>> clenched in his teeth. ìH-W-O-H - who?î>
>>
>> http://www.bostonherald.com/news/opinion/columnists/view.bg?
>> articleid=1062332
>>
>> Phil Cleary
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------
>> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>
>
> --
> Dennis R. Preston
> University Distinguished Professor
> Department of English
> Morrill Hall 15-C
> Michigan State University
> East Lansing, MI 48864 USA
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org