LL-L "Phonology" 2003.09.01 (06) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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L O W L A N D S - L * 01.SEP.2003 (06) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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From: lingoman at webtv.net <lingoman at webtv.net>
Subject: Phonology

I've been following the hw postings with interest.  Last year I did an
informal survey among friends and relations, and could only find 2
people (out of 20) who use hw (one from the South and one from
Colorado).  I don't use hw myself, and so felt in the majority.

I did *not* feel in the majority with my second question.  I pronounce
words like "human" or "huge" with a plain y, i.e. "yoo-man" "yooj" etc.
In my small sample about 5 people agreed with my pronunciation, but most
American still seem to pronounce "hy".  The Random House dictionary has
a pronunciation note at the entry from "human": "Pronunciations of words
like "human," "huge" with the initial h deleted, while sometimes
criticized, are heard from speakers at all social and educational
levels, including professors, lawyers, and other public speakers."

Since I drop h in front of both semi-vowels, I see a certain logic but
usage in the US seems to be that hw is declining, while hy still is
predominant.  As others have already noted, people do not even hear the
difference unless their attention is drawn to it...

Sean Roach

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