How Do Abers Pronounce The Letter H?

[Stargazer]

My grandchildren all pronounce it haitch. It seems as though they pick it up from the school playground.

[jno]

bhg, people are free to edit Wiktionary, as they are free to pronounce words as they choose. The OED notes that pronunciation with an initial H is characteristic of some dialects. Dialects are not "wrong". It may be called the Queen's English but HM does not own it. It belongs just as much to Northern Ireland's Catholics as to Protestants, but they pronounce it differently. If an imaginary English Academy (possibly including a cross-section of ABers) made a ruling, it would be ignored.

[Stargazer]

Arksided, some of the grandchildren are grown up but I seem to remember that they all did it, although going to different primary schools. The youngest is now nine and probably still pronounces it with an aitch.

[kvalidir]

My mother (RP English) says 'aitch' as do I normally. My father, (west Belfast Catholic), well read and articulate, says 'haitch'- it is dialectal as Jno says and nothing whatsoever to do with education or intelligence.

[New Judge]

"...it is dialectal as Jno says and nothing whatsoever to do with education or intelligence."

I would disagree. As I said earlier, it is akin to saying someone is "hignorant". Nothing to do with dialect but simply incorrect.

[Cloverjo]

I can't bear it when people say 'haitch'. I also can't bear it when people say 'an historic....' or 'an hotel'.

[bhg481]

jno - I accept your response and understand that the Irish (amongst others) have their own pronunciation. I just point out that Wiki is not a valid source of information.