LL-L "Phonology" 2006.03.06 (10) [E]

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   L O W L A N D S - L * 06 February 2006 * Volume 10
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From: Isaac M. Davis <isaacmacdonalddavis at gmail.com>
Subject: LL-L "Literature" 2006.03.04 (01) [E]

Ingmar wrote:

> I am curious if and how native English speakers still distinguish <w> and 
> <wh> in
> their pronunciation.  For me and other Dutchophones they usually sound the 
> same,
> and I pronounce both as <w>, so I wouldn't tell e.g. whether and weather 
> from each
> other.  But maybe some regional pronos or sociolect still have <wh> 
> ('hw')?


In my experience, most Canadian Anglophones don't distinguish between /w/ 
and /wh/ in their speech. I definitely don't, and it's a fairly common 
spelling mistake, e.g. /were/ for /where/ and vice versa. However, there are 
regiolects that distinguish them, and individuals who do so, whether it's 
learned from their parents or adopted as a sign of 'education'.

It does seem to be common among people from the Ottawa Valley, at least 
among those of my parents' generation (born in the 1950s), perhaps a bit 
younger. I'd theorise that in the Valley, it comes from Hiberno-English 
influence.

I'm not sure what the sound is, exactly (haven't listened closely enough); 
it could be the voiceless W, could be [hw], could be H and W co-articulated. 
But the distinction is definitely there.

Regards,

Isaac M. Davis

-- 

Westron wynd, when wilt thou blow
The smalle rain down can rain
Christ yf my love were in my arms
And I yn my bed again 

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