Food vlogger Adam Ragusea ponders why people in the United States don’t pronounce the “h” in the word “herbs” while people who speak British English do. He explains that the English word came from the French “herbe”, a language that is not particularly fond of pronouncing that letter.
You Brits….may be wondering, “Hey, why do you Yanks not pronouncethe H in herbs?” Well, I suppose we could ask you, do you pronounce the H in honest, honor,hour, heir? Well then why do you pronounce the H in herb? These are all loanwords from French, and the French basically never pronounce Hs when it comes in the beginning position of a word, or at the end,or in various other places.
While the history is a bit more complicated, Ragusea also states that the British didn’t adopt the pronunciation of the first letter of the word until the 19th century.
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, you Brits said herb with a silent H right up until some time in the 19th century. Only then did you start to adapt this loanword into your own pronunciation habits.For whatever reason, we Americans just simply haven’t gotten around to anglicizing herb yet.
In other words, neither is right nor wrong.
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As an enthusiast with a deep understanding of linguistics and language evolution, I'm here to shed light on the intriguing phenomenon of the pronunciation of the word "herb" in American English versus British English. My expertise in historical linguistics allows me to delve into the roots of language and trace the evolution of pronunciation patterns over time.
Now, let's dissect the concepts discussed in the article featuring food vlogger Adam Ragusea:
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Etymology and Loanwords: Ragusea delves into the etymology of the word "herb," highlighting its French origin as "herbe." This is a classic case of a loanword, where a term from one language is borrowed and integrated into another.
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French Language Influence: The article mentions that the French language, from which "herb" originated, has a tendency to avoid pronouncing the letter "h" in certain positions within words. This linguistic trait directly influences the pronunciation patterns of loanwords like "herb."
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Historical Pronunciation in British English: According to Ragusea, British English speakers did not adopt the pronunciation of the initial "h" in "herb" until the 19th century. The Oxford English Dictionary is cited as a source, attesting to the historical evolution of pronunciation in British English.
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Comparative Analysis: Ragusea draws a parallel between the pronunciation of "herb" and other words in both American and British English, such as "honest," "honor," "hour," and "heir." This comparative analysis highlights the inconsistency in the adoption of the silent "h" in loanwords.
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Anglicization and Language Evolution: The article suggests that Americans, for whatever reason, have not fully anglicized the pronunciation of "herb" yet. This speaks to the dynamic nature of language, where pronunciation habits may persist or change based on cultural and historical factors.
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Cultural Acceptance: Ragusea concludes by stating that neither pronunciation is considered right or wrong. This observation reflects the acceptance of linguistic variations and the understanding that language is fluid, adapting to cultural and regional influences over time.
In summary, the article provides a fascinating exploration of linguistic history, borrowing from French, the influence of pronunciation patterns, and the evolution of language in both American and British English. The comparative analysis adds depth to our understanding of why variations in pronunciation exist and highlights the dynamic nature of language evolution.
