Author Topic: How do you pronounced "what", "when" and "overwhelmed"? (Read 3898 times)

rumborak · « **on:** September 17, 2011, 04:47:52 AM »

So, 100 years ago apparently the majority of Americans still pronounced the aspirated "wh" sound in such words as what, when and overwhelmed. But, these days the sound has almost disappeared in every day language.
(if you don't know what I mean, it's breathing out while pronouncing the "w" sound)
I wanted to see how many here pronounce it the "old-school" way.

rumborak

BlobVanDam · « **Reply #1 on:** September 17, 2011, 04:54:19 AM »

I don't pronounce the "h" at all.

Also, the first thing I thought of was cool whip.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ScyVd-hXNk

Fiery Winds · « **Reply #2 on:** September 17, 2011, 04:56:01 AM »

Quote from: BlobVanDam on September 17, 2011, 04:54:19 AM

I don't pronounce the "h" at all.

Also, the first thing I thought of was cool whip.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ScyVd-hXNk

Beat me to it!!

snapple · « **Reply #3 on:** September 17, 2011, 05:21:43 AM »

depends who I am around. parents and such, I do say things prim and proper.

Edan the Man · « **Reply #4 on:** September 17, 2011, 05:26:22 AM »

I tell you hwat.

Nekov · « **Reply #5 on:** September 17, 2011, 07:00:07 AM »

I don't pronounce the h at all. I have a partner at work that does pronounce it and I get all Brian inside when it happens but I never tell her anything.

PlaysLikeMyung · « **Reply #6 on:** September 17, 2011, 07:13:58 AM »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OegTja4kpt0

Jamesman42 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 17, 2011, 07:19:20 AM »

If I am talking softly, my breath will make me pronounce the h sound (weird, I know).

If I am speaking louder (like yelling at my class), then just the w.

Perpetual Change · « **Reply #8 on:** September 17, 2011, 07:27:32 AM »

I had a professor in undergrad who pronounced the "h". It was pretty funny. He taught Milton. It was pretty fitting, come to thing of it.

MasterShakezula · « **Reply #9 on:** September 17, 2011, 08:37:12 AM »

I've never heard anyone talk like that and would be rather terrified at the prospect of meeting someone who does.

Sir GuitarCozmo · « **Reply #10 on:** September 17, 2011, 08:49:38 AM »

I've been made fun of for continuing to pronounce the "h". Every time. That's how it was intended to be pronounced.

tri.ad · « **Reply #11 on:** September 17, 2011, 08:53:21 AM »

I don't aspirate the wh. Hell, it's hard enough not to say "vat, ven, overvelmed" when your first language is German.

alirocker08 · « **Reply #12 on:** September 17, 2011, 09:06:42 AM »

I mix them up, sometimes I say things properly, othertimes I'll miss out the 'h', no idea why.

Adami · « **Reply #13 on:** September 17, 2011, 09:49:30 AM »

I don't pronounce the H. And those that do need to realize that the H doesn't come before the W.

rumborak · « **Reply #14 on:** September 17, 2011, 09:49:48 AM »

Quote from: tri.ad on September 17, 2011, 08:53:21 AM

I don't aspirate the wh. Hell, it's hard enough not to say "vat, ven, overvelmed" when your first language is German.

I know this German girl that made the double-switch with "vodka". She would pronounce it "oo-adka" because after all, in German it's spelled "Wodka"!

rumborak

rumborak · « **Reply #15 on:** September 17, 2011, 09:53:05 AM »

Quote from: Adami on September 17, 2011, 09:49:30 AM

I don't pronounce the H. And those that do need to realize that the H doesn't come before the W.

Well, it used to be. In Old English spelling the H was first, so it was "hwale" instead of "whale".

rumborak

lonestar · « **Reply #16 on:** September 17, 2011, 10:21:11 AM »

I pronounce them "wat" , "when" , and "aw fuck it!!!"

bout to crash · « **Reply #17 on:** September 17, 2011, 10:29:08 AM »

Super Dude · « **Reply #18 on:** September 17, 2011, 12:29:00 PM »

I'm just saying, you should be nicer to Hwil Hweaton, Hwil Hweaton seems like a nice guy.

Sigz · « **Reply #19 on:** September 17, 2011, 12:32:27 PM »

hefdaddy42 · « **Reply #20 on:** September 17, 2011, 12:33:37 PM »

I pronounce the "H".

Fuzzboy · « **Reply #21 on:** September 17, 2011, 12:46:52 PM »

slight pronunciation of the H

MasterShakezula · « **Reply #22 on:** September 17, 2011, 01:21:55 PM »

Quote from: Super Dude on September 17, 2011, 12:29:00 PM

I'm just saying, you should be nicer to Hwil Hweaton, Hwil Hweaton seems like a nice guy.

Screw Wesley!

He was the most horrendous example of The Wesley since, well, himself.

TempusVox · « **Reply #23 on:** September 17, 2011, 02:18:06 PM »

I pronounce the H because that's how you're supposed to pronounce it.

If you don't that means you say Witch and Which the same, and that's just wrong.

Pols Voice · « **Reply #24 on:** September 17, 2011, 02:34:09 PM »

H? We don't need no steenking h!

TheSilentHam · « **Reply #25 on:** September 17, 2011, 02:37:41 PM »

Dictionary.com has both pronunciations: [hwich, wich]

If it's on the internet, it must be true...right?

Super Dude · « **Reply #26 on:** September 17, 2011, 05:31:04 PM »

Quote from: TheSilentHam on September 17, 2011, 02:37:41 PM

Dictionary.com has both pronunciations: [hwich, wich]

If it's on the internet, it must be true...right?

The Silent Ham

Like the name

pogoowner · « **Reply #27 on:** September 17, 2011, 10:11:43 PM »

Implode · « **Reply #28 on:** September 17, 2011, 10:19:03 PM »

Quote from: Sir GuitarCozmo on September 17, 2011, 08:49:38 AM

I've been made fun of for continuing to pronounce the "h". Every time. That's how it was intended to be pronounced.

My only problem with this method of logic is that you're going to still have to make a choice to when the original was because language is always changing.

TheSilentHam · « **Reply #29 on:** September 18, 2011, 12:35:02 AM »

Quote from: Super Dude on September 17, 2011, 05:31:04 PM

The Silent Ham

Like the name

Thanks Dude. It means alot coming from you.....because I'm SO not kosher.

Super Dude · « **Reply #30 on:** September 18, 2011, 09:44:24 AM »

Very well observed! I will NEVER eat pork products....

That are not bacon...

Accompanied by milk...

When a rabbi is in visual range.

I'm Jew-"ish."

Adami · « **Reply #31 on:** September 18, 2011, 09:48:00 AM »

Quote from: Super Dude on September 18, 2011, 09:44:24 AM

Very well observed! I will NEVER eat pork products....

That are not bacon...

Accompanied by milk...

When a rabbi is in visual range.

I'm Jew-"ish."

Treif.

Sir GuitarCozmo · « **Reply #32 on:** September 18, 2011, 03:05:20 PM »

Quote from: Implode on September 17, 2011, 10:19:03 PM

Quote from: Sir GuitarCozmo on September 17, 2011, 08:49:38 AM
I've been made fun of for continuing to pronounce the "h". Every time. That's how it was intended to be pronounced.

My only problem with this method of logic is that you're going to still have to make a choice to when the original was because language is always changing.

Understood, but IMO, language will never change to the point where it's acceptable to pronounce "wh" sounds without the "h".

MasterShakezula · « **Reply #33 on:** September 18, 2011, 03:06:59 PM »

I've never heard a person in school, not even a teacher, pronounce the silent h.

So, it sounds like language has changed to that point, at least on a regional basis.

Sir GuitarCozmo · « **Reply #34 on:** September 18, 2011, 05:24:28 PM »

The h isn't silent. As I said, it is my opinion that everybody saying it that way doesn't make it right.

News: DreamTheaterForums is a place for people who just don't have the time for music anymore.

Poll

How do you pronounce them?

Author Topic: How do you pronounced "what", "when" and "overwhelmed"? (Read 3898 times)