an heinous habit

[rone]

Why the hell do people write "an historical" when nobody pronounces it "istorical"? Who the hell started this trend and why did it catch on?

Comments

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

Where? Where the hell is it awkward? On Planet STUPID? Do these people, when they want tuna sushi, ask for "ani" instead of "ahi" because it's AWKWARD to say "ahi"? Do this people say "an `istory book"? WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE AND WHERE ARE THEY SO I MAY FIND THEM AND BEAT THEM?

[ikkyu2.livejournal.com]

¿Cuantos anos tiene Ud., señor?

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

I only have one anus.

[huaman.livejournal.com]

And my personal favourite... espero que tu ano nuevo sea feliz.

Coming closer to on topic here, though, some years back I happened across this article in the journal Radiographics, dealing with imaging of a newborn infant with an imperforate anus.

"Wow," I thought to myself, "That puts that one aphorism in a new light -- 'opinions are like assholes: everybody has one... except that guy.'" Upon reading the article, of course, I did learn that he was surgically provided with one, but still. Born with no asshole. Surely this must mean something in the grand scheme of things.

[wisn.livejournal.com]

Calm down. It's a British pronunciation standard (where people say "an 'istory"). As for norms of speech elsewhere, chalk it up either to regionalism or pretense.

BBC announcers typically use, "An h-." I would link to the BBC Pronunciation Unit web page, but there isn't any. Here's a page of somebody who works there: Withersea: Catherine's page (http://web.onetel.net.uk/~marcandcie/cie/)

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

Hear them down in Soho Square
Dropping aitches everywhere,
Speaking English any way they like.

Henry Higgins died in vain. God damn it.

[fanf]

You what? AFAICT it's an Americanism.

[tritone.livejournal.com]

Hey, you got something against Planet STUPID?