Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site umcp-cs.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!seismo!rlgvax!cvl!umcp-cs!petec
From: petec@umcp-cs.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: Pronounciation
Message-ID: <2338@umcp-cs.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 1-Sep-83 17:46:51 EDT
Article-I.D.: umcp-cs.2338
Posted: Thu Sep  1 17:46:51 1983
Date-Received: Fri, 2-Sep-83 13:22:18 EDT
References: <636@hou5d.UUCP>
Organization: Univ. of Maryland, Computer Science Dept.
Lines: 29


 I dispute the allegation that pronouncing herb as 'erb' is a trendy, posh
way of saying it. I have always pronounced it like that, and most everyone I've
ever heard has said that. I do not claim to be the setter or judger of
standards, but saying 'herb' does not seem to be the norm. Websters New World
Dictionary gives both pronounciations, but lists 'erb' before 'herb'. In my
English classes, I was always taught that herb was one of the 7 words in
English where the initial 'h' was not pronounced (others are heir, honor; I
can never remember the complete list. Anyone know them?).
 What does rub me the wrong way is the fact that everyone is starting to use
the word 'an' with words starting with 'h', as in '... an historic event'. This
does seem to be trendy, and what's worse is that it doesn't even sound right,
    (except for the 7 words referred to above)
which is the main argument against it, as the use of 'an' should be  completely
controlled by vowel and consonant sounds. Others may disagree with me, but they
won't convince me it is right. If I were a professor, I would tell people on 
the first day of class that any papers with this abomination appearing in it
will be turned back with a red 'X' for a grammar error (I subscribe to the
notion that any paper should have correct grammar and spelling; none of this
stuff about '... but this isn't an English class, why do we have to spell
correctly?'). 
 And another thing.... oh, well I guess that's enough for now.

     It's been >>an<< honor speaking out.
-- 
Call-Me:   Pete Cottrell, Univ. of Md. Comp. Sci. Dept.
UUCP:	   {seismo,allegra,brl-bmd}!umcp-cs!petec
CSNet:	   petec@umcp-cs
ARPA:	   petec.umcp-cs@UDel-Relay