I often hear "haitch" when talking to Francophones too. A good friend from Val-D'or tosses in a lot of h's at the front of English words that start with vowels. Like "hice cube". And then dropping them, inexplicably when the are supposed to be there "hice on de pool at de 'otel."
There are few people here who do that too. I assume they're from Avondale because of the old expression, "I lost my H in Holyrood and picked it up in Avondale", but it's said, "I lost me haitch in Olyrood and picked'en up in Havondale."
It's not very common, though. And really stands out. Sometimes they're even hard for most locals to understand. "D'ya got any hags?" = Do you have any eggs?, etc.
__________________ Note to self: "The plural of anecdote is not evidence."
The alphabet song I was taught in elementary school ended with "double-u, eks, wye and zed." The only time I hear "zee" around here is if it's part of a name you only hear pronounced that way, like Dragonball Z for example. Other than that it pretty much doesn't exist.
I rhyme "merry" with "marry," not sure if that's American or Canadian.
Process is "praw-cess." Definitely not "pro," but not quite "prah" either.
"Route" is pronounced the same as "root." Usually. Sometimes I'll say "rout" and I have no idea where it comes from.
I had no idea anybody said "haitch." Sounds like something old people say, along with "Hwipped cream"
Apparently Gaelic speakers pronounce Z as "zae" when speaking English, so that could be where our use of it comes from - assuming it predates American influence.
I imagine, though, that we just get it from the Americans. I learned it as 'zee' in school because of the alphabet song.
Pronouncing H as 'haitch" instead of 'aitch" is definitely from Ireland, though.
The alphabet song I was taught in elementary school ended with "double-u, eks, wye and zed." The only time I hear "zee" around here is if it's part of a name you only hear pronounced that way, like Dragonball Z for example. Other than that it pretty much doesn't exist.
I rhyme "merry" with "marry," not sure if that's American or Canadian.
Process is "praw-cess." Definitely not "pro," but not quite "prah" either.
"Route" is pronounced the same as "root." Usually. Sometimes I'll say "rout" and I have no idea where it comes from.
I had no idea anybody said "haitch." Sounds like something old people say, along with "Hwipped cream"
I find Southwestern Ontario very inconsistent when it comes to "Pro-ces" vs "Prah-cess", "Pro-duce" vs "Prah-duce" and "Root" vs "Rout". It would not surprise me to hear something like "Smith Farms pro-duces really fine organic prah-duce".
I find Southwestern Ontario very inconsistent when it comes to "Pro-ces" vs "Prah-cess", "Pro-duce" vs "Prah-duce" and "Root" vs "Rout". It would not surprise me to hear something like "Smith Farms pro-duces really fine organic prah-duce".
Hell, I'm inconsistent when it comes to this stuff. As far these sorts of pronunciations go, I think it's personal moreso than regional.
I find Southwestern Ontario very inconsistent when it comes to "Pro-ces" vs "Prah-cess", "Pro-duce" vs "Prah-duce" and "Root" vs "Rout". It would not surprise me to hear something like "Smith Farms pro-duces really fine organic prah-duce".
Huh, you're right. I say "praw-cess," but always "pro-duce."
Actually, now I'm second guessing myself. I think I do randomly say prah-duce. Not sure now.
Francophones in Quebec who learn English also tend to use zee. I suspect that lio says zee. I'll have to check with my kids but I am pretty sure I have heard them say zee.
You're right, but that's because I learned English through English-language material (books, movies, etc.) that, it turned out, was mostly American in origin.
Americans are known for trying to simplify the English language. Both formally (zee, center, color, dialog, judgment, etc.) and also informally (midnite, thru, Xmas, etc.)
just as an aside, the 'color' spelling was also used in england. it was the 19th-century vogue for all things french that saw 'colour' and others emerge.
i dropped the u when working for a us company that mandated american spellings, so i figured it would be easier to adopt it across my personal and professional writing. once i found that it was in no way the 'original' spelling, however, i decided not to re-add it.
I hate "programme" "tonne", "gramme", "behaviour" and "apologise" (I prefer program, ton, gram, behavior and apologize).
I also hate the way Llllloyd Robertson says "Schedule" (Sshhedule). I say "Skedjule"
On the other hand, I prefer entre (vs. Enter), and grey (vs. gray).
__________________
The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts. (Bertrand Russell)
just as an aside, the 'color' spelling was also used in england. it was the 19th-century vogue for all things french that saw 'colour' and others emerge.
i dropped the u when working for a us company that mandated american spellings, so i figured it would be easier to adopt it across my personal and professional writing. once i found that it was in no way the 'original' spelling, however, i decided not to re-add it.
Thanks, I did not know that.
I am sure you probably agree about the American tendency to simplify language.
It even extends to proper names and I've always noticed how much more common simplified spelling are in the U.S.:
I hate "programme" "tonne", "gramme", "behaviour" and "apologise" (I prefer program, ton, gram, behavior and apologize).
I also hate the way Llllloyd Robertson says "Schedule" (Sshhedule). I say "Skedjule"
On the other hand, I prefer entre (vs. Enter), and grey (vs. gray).
Especially Selpulchre. I use that word all the time
__________________
The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts. (Bertrand Russell)
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