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Joined: Dec 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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The closest I have heard to a rule on this is that if the <b>h</b> is not sounded and the initial syllable is accented the proper article is <b>a</b>, but if the initial syllable is not accented the proper article is <b>an</b>

Does HTML work here? Please forgive me if it doesn't.

As a side note, I have thought that the thorny (že?) question of whether the initial h was pronounced in a Latin word could be resolved (or at least attacked) by determining whether the corresponding word in a modern Romance language followed some rule or other, which rule being dependent on the language. E.g., French mute h as in <i>l'herbe</i> vs. non-mute h as in <i>la hauteur</i>.


#11482 12/01/00 01:05 PM
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OK, HTML doesn't work (Seufz!). I also see that I am a stranger. There are those who know me say they don't come much more so.


#11483 12/01/00 01:17 PM
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jmh Offline
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Hi Faldage

No HTML doesn't work but markup does. If you click on the purple bit a the top right of the "reply" screen it will give you a few tips.

A good tip is that yellow isn't a very useful colour for posts.

Don't worry about being a stranger. We have all been strangers. There is a thread called Graduation to fill you in.


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>Canada has just held national elections

And Gore asked for a recount in PEI, asserting he has a 50-50 chance at becoming PM if enough of votes there are in his favor.



TEd
#11485 12/01/00 01:56 PM
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Thanks, jmh. Markup seems to be, at least for my purposes, not too different from HTML

I wasn't worried about being a stranger.


#11486 12/01/00 02:00 PM
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wow Offline
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Dear JMH, Would you be kind enough to re-post your last message? I cannot read yellow words, they're just a blur. Does anyone else have trouble with the yellow? Or am I really THAT old.
wow


#11487 12/01/00 02:12 PM
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jmh Offline
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>Or am I really THAT old

Would I dare insinuate such a thing!

By the way a good tip with those awkward yellow posts is to highlight them, then all is revealed - but you knew that didn't you?


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In reply to:

>Canada has just held national elections

And Gore asked for a recount in PEI, asserting he has a 50-50 chance at becoming PM if enough of votes there are in his favor.


I'm just back from the Philippines. One of the things which struck me forcibly is that they are probably going to be looking for a new president PDQ. The current vice-president is 4ft 11in in her stockinged feet. Maybe Al Gore can provide some added weight in Manila? It is an island, just like PEI, but the resemblance ends there! Although, IMHO, Bush would feel more at home there ...



The idiot also known as Capfka ...
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drum:

A belated welcome to a lovely place.

Back to your original question about pronouncing h's. You say that you would say and I presume write this title as "An Historical Examination of the Pronunciation of H." But would you write (and say) "An History of the Pronunciation" or "A History?" If you would use "an" in the first instance and "a" in the second, pray tell why.



TEd
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enthusiast
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>I'm just back from the Philippines... The current vice-president is 4ft 11in in her stockinged feet.

Shame Imelda didn't leave any of her shoes lying around.


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