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Re: "English" questions by Spursfan on 18 November 2008 8:07am

I can remember our English teacher (who was an American from Rhode Island) bringing in an American English - UK English dictionary one day! It was a huge thing and she sent it round the form so we could all have a look.

As (early) teenage girls we used to think it terribly amusing when she was reading out something for us to copy down, as instead of 'full stop' she would say 'period' (pause for a teenage snigger)!!

I remember her fondly, as she changed her plans to return to the US long enough to take us right through to 'O'-level (5 years). That was dedication in my eyes.

Re: "English" questions by mrsthing on 18 November 2008 1:02pm

I was taught in school to use the article "an" before a word starting with H, e.g., "an historic occasion". I still do it out of force of habit, but nobody else I know does (except my husband, who's mother is a Brit).

My second grade teacher spent her summers and winter breaks in England, and come to think of it, might have come over to the US from England during the war--she had a slight British accent. Anyway, one January she came back and gave me an old English copper penny. It was bigger than an American half dollar, and heavy as lead. I couldn't imagine anyone walking around with a bunch of them in a pants pocket or pocketbook. I don't know where it is now. Even though it was brown and a bit worn, it would probably be worth more than a penny now.

Re: "English" questions by peripatetically on 18 November 2008 1:23pm

I use "an" in front of some "h" words. Honor, honest and hour are the ones that come to mind right now.
Then there's the word "herb". Do you or do you not pronounce the "H"?

Re: "English" questions by ev on 18 November 2008 1:37pm

'Hard' H's aren't normally preceded by 'an'. (e.g. hospital, horse, hose)

'Soft'/'silent' H's are. (e.g. hour, honorary)

Re: "English" questions by peripatetically on 18 November 2008 1:53pm

Yes, Ev, that's what my example says too.

But do you pronounce the "H" in herb? I never did as a child, but I occasionally hear it pronounced by some gardeners now.( Might be the it English verses the USA ?)

Re: "English" questions by ev on 18 November 2008 2:33pm

Of course in some English dialects you don't pronounce the h in herb.

In the cockney dialect h is almost never pronounced at all. But you probably know that already :)

Re: "English" questions by bIG bLOGGER on 18 November 2008 3:37pm

Too Right,ev!

In 'Elsinki,'urricanes 'ardly ever 'appen!

(...What a vulgar way to talk!!)

Re: "English" questions by ev on 18 November 2008 3:43pm

'ey! Mind what you say! In Australia we're proud of our cockney 'eritage!

Re: "English" questions by mrsthing on 18 November 2008 6:03pm

I have heard British people using "an" before a hard H. Is that regional?

Re: "English" questions by bIG bLOGGER on 3 December 2008 4:15pm

Some usage sounds OK either way you say it; for example,some would say:--
'a historic time'.. others:--
'an historic time' --:either sounds good. Likewise:--
'a hotel' or:
'an hotel'

a hysterical child' or:
'an hysterical child'..and so on..it's often at the discretion of the speaker,I don't think regional connotations come into it.

Q:Does anybody know how the word 'anorak' came to be used to refer to people who have a meticulous interest in facts and figures?

..The word 'anorak' literally means 'Eskimo jacket with a hood' and is an Inuit word.

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