Where do they pronounce the H of Birmingham??

cftranslate · Post by **cftranslate** » Sun Nov 21, 2004 8:34 pm

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.

Harzer · Post by **Harzer** » Mon Nov 22, 2004 12:30 am

We pronounce the 'h' in Australia.

In Birmingham (UK) itself the natives say 'Brummagem' so I have heard.

Harzer

lolwhites · Post by **lolwhites** » Mon Nov 22, 2004 9:45 am

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.

Lorikeet · Post by **Lorikeet** » Mon Nov 22, 2004 4:23 pm

I've always pronounced the "h" in Birmingham. (Born: Detroit, MI; currently in S.F, CA)

lolwhites · Post by **lolwhites** » Mon Nov 22, 2004 5:51 pm

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...

lolwhites · Post by **lolwhites** » Mon Nov 22, 2004 5:54 pm

Actually, I've just realised the local village of Soham is pronounced sowum so even the vowel thing doesn't hold as a rule.

Stephen Jones · Post by **Stephen Jones** » Mon Nov 22, 2004 6:03 pm

In pronouncing both Birmingham and Altrincham I can hear a slight aspiration after the 'g' or the 'c'.

Might be just me though

Stephen Jones · Post by **Stephen Jones** » Mon Nov 22, 2004 6:04 pm

In pronouncing both Birmingham and Altrincham I can hear a slight aspiration after the 'g' or the 'c'.

Might be just me though

Harzer · Post by **Harzer** » Wed Nov 24, 2004 12:09 am

Well there are two of you saying it so it must be right by the 'law of informant-support'.

Harzer

Sally Olsen · Post by **Sally Olsen** » Wed Nov 24, 2004 9:31 pm

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.