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The piece also asserted that "word" and "whirred" are "pronounced exactly the same". They aren't. The first consonant is different; IPA [w] vs. IPA [hw].
by Bud 12y ago
The piece also asserted that "word" and "whirred" are "pronounced exactly the same".
They aren't. The first consonant is different; IPA [w] vs. IPA [hw].
- talideon 12y agoIn a good number of English dialects [w] and [hw] have collapsed together.
- groovy2shoes 12y agoYep, to the point of /hw/ being considered comical by many speakers. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phonological_history_of_wh#Wine.E2.80.93whine_merger http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phonological_history_of_wh#Wine... Edit: I just want to point out that despite what the map in the linked article says, the merger is complete in most of the urban areas in the Southeast as well. You'll usually only hear /hw/ in rural areas.
- punee 12y agoOTOH, that "wh" is pronounced /hw/ only reinforces his main argument.
- aninhumer 12y agoFor me, it's the same consonant, but the vowel sound is very slightly longer in "whirred".