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Where do they pronounce the H of Birmingham??
Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2004 8:34 pm
by cftranslate
I think they pronounce it in the town itself but where else?
What is the aproximate distribution?
I mean both Birmingham, AL and Birmingham, UK.
Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2004 12:30 am
by Harzer
We pronounce the 'h' in Australia.
In Birmingham (UK) itself the natives say 'Brummagem' so I have heard.
Harzer
Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2004 9:45 am
by lolwhites
In the UK the pronunciation is "Bermingam", though the inhabitatants can be referred to as "Brummies" and the accent as "Brummie" or "Brum". The "h" is silent for most, if not all place names which end -ham.
Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2004 4:23 pm
by Lorikeet
I've always pronounced the "h" in Birmingham. (Born: Detroit, MI; currently in S.F, CA)
Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2004 5:51 pm
by lolwhites
Near to Cambridge there's a village called Cottenham (pronounced locally as Cotnum) , Willingham (pronounced Willingum) and Swaffham (pronounced Swoffum). The only time the h would be pronounced is after a vowel e.g. Babraham.
Must confuse the tourists no end...
Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2004 5:54 pm
by lolwhites
Actually, I've just realised the local village of Soham is pronounced sowum so even the vowel thing doesn't hold as a rule.
Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2004 6:03 pm
by Stephen Jones
In pronouncing both Birmingham and Altrincham I can hear a slight aspiration after the 'g' or the 'c'.
Might be just me though
Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2004 6:04 pm
by Stephen Jones
In pronouncing both Birmingham and Altrincham I can hear a slight aspiration after the 'g' or the 'c'.
Might be just me though
Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2004 12:09 am
by Harzer
Well there are two of you saying it so it must be right by the 'law of informant-support'.
Harzer
Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2004 9:31 pm
by Sally Olsen
Don't try to buy a ticket for Birmingham on the train using the H. They won't know where you are going or will laugh you out of the train station or at least they did it to me in 70's. It brands you as a foreigner right away. (Everyone told me that I didn't speak English at all.) But it happens everywhere - many people ask where the Ot ta wah bus, train or plane is. We say Odduwuh or Turuntuh for Toronto. Easier for us and makes an in group I suppose.