They are indeed an abbreviation for "change". change {root,own(er),mod(e),gr(ou)p}... I am one of those who say "c-h-..." as well. For some reason I find it le

They are indeed an abbreviation for "change". change {root,own(er),mod(e),gr(ou)p}... I am one of those who say "c-h-..." as well. For some reason I find it less awkward to say than "shroot." Perhaps the first thing I think of with "ch" is the hard C or K, like "character." That sound wouldn't work in those cases. 'Kroot', 'kown', eh... no, so "C-H-..." it is. On that note the page mentions"char" at the top, lists "care" and I more frequently hear others use "char" as in to burn. In my groups I think I'm the only one that pronounces it as first syllable of the actual word.