Haitch in HSBC phone message

[ClaudiusTheGod]

Phone HSBC. A voice will thank you for calling Haitch S B C.

This is all kinds of wrong, isn’t it?

In Scotland (or maybe only parts of Scotland) they pronounce J as J-Eye.

Yeah I'm Irish and say Haitch.

Standard where?

Be sure to avoid doing any business with an Irish company so 🙄

Jesus Haitch Christ ... what the fuck am I reading?!

It's "oh don't call them an Irish name, they are unreadable/sign of a naughty child" in a different format.

Genuine question…..

what has Catholicism got to do with it?

We are told to refer to people as whatever race they actually belong to - based on the PPs response of “with an African name” I can assume the person was Black, so you would call them Black.

Lots of people would hate how ‘couldn’t’ is said in Hull.

Within NI it's a shibboleth, so broadly:

Catholic = nationalist = Irish identity = Haitch

Protestant = unionist = British identity = Aitch

Not sure about GB but I presume catholics are more likely to have Irish ancestry and so say Haitch.

Within the 26 counties I think Haitch is standard regardless of religious background but open to correction on that.

As someone said above, criticising use of Haitch or Aitch in the workplace would be seem as sectarian and a very dim view would be taken.

I love the English language and the fact we are [not] supposed to pronounce the H in H

I admit that 'haitch' sets my teeth on edge a bit, except when it's said by Irish or Northern Irish people, where it sounds normal. But seriously - let’s not pretend that the 'correct' pronunciation (of aitch or indeed much of the English language!) actually has much basis in logic. As a previous poster illustrated, the name of a letter of the alphabet doesn't always begin with (or sometimes even contain) the sound that the letter itself makes. Double-you, not wubble-you. Eff, not feff. Why, not Yuy, Ahh (or Arr for Rhotic speakers), not Rah/Rarr.

Let’s also not pretend that we should judge the correct standard pronunciation of a word based on what it sounded like when it was absorbed into English from French hundreds and hundreds of years ago.

@Popplcroft

Northern Ireland is part of the UK. It's a sectarian shibboleth.

I say again, DFOD with the anti-Catholic, anti-Irish sentiment.

You know, there are English Catholics, too.

Lots of people would hate how ‘couldn’t’ is said in Hull.

Or how "our souls" is said by BBC presenters.

The hideous phrase "a big ask" is made even more hideous by how people on the radio pronounce it.

Thanks. figured that’s what was meant. But yes, you’re correct most people in Ireland would say haitch.

I'm an Ulster Catholic Unionist from Northern Ireland and I use both versions - "haitch" and "aitch".

Disagree that it's supposedly anti-Catholic and anti-Irish to frown on "haitch" because this pronunciation is more common these days. And not at all restricted to a Catholic or Irish population.

Indeed, in the 19th century it was common to pronounce hospital as "ospital" and hotel as "otel". By the 20th century, the letter h was no longer silent in hospital and hotel. Even herb was pronounced as "erb" back then although we pronounce it with the letter H today.

Pronunciation is ALWAYS changing in the English language. Amazing to see how some can get so worked up about such a trivial issue. 🤷‍♂️

And Irish Protestants that say haitch!

I find these threads hilarious. The venom directed at the poor little haitch and its speakers is just so arrogant and insular.

I am assuming that many of the aithchers would also defend to the death the correctness of adding seemingly random 'r's to words such as drawing. Pronouncing drawing as draawring sounds so wrong to my delicate Irish ears but I recognise that there are different ways of saying things and rhotic/non-rhotic etc. etc.

I think this is far less marked these days to the point where its not really a thing, especially as "haitch" is really increasing a LOT throughout the UK.

"Aitch" is decreasing in popularity. As far back as 2010, the British Library said "haitch" was becoming more popular amongst young people.

Several words are changing. Garage is one of them - I still pronounce it as "garridge", but many others do not.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-11642588

It's racist and imperialist to think the UK (you actually mean England) is the only way that is correct

I don’t. But the bank in question is in England. Therefore it’s correct for them. I’m sure their Irish branch (if they have one) might say Haitch.

I don’t really understand how this thread has descended into lots of Irish people thinking this assertion is racist

Who said work? I don’t see the word work in my post? Please point out where I said I wouldn’t work for a company that says Haitch?

How embarrassing for you to try and insinuate the R word as I’m pretty sure that’s what you’re inferring! For your information I meant if there was an ad from a company that said Haitch I wouldn’t be inclined to buy from them. Let’s say for instance HMV had an ad on the telly and they said Haitch Em Vee, I’d think that sounded unprofessional. And last time I looked I’m allowed to ‘think’ anything I damn well like.

I don’t really understand how this thread has descended into lots of Irish people thinking this assertion is racist

Well, it's probably got to do with being called thickos who make people cringe when they speak perfectly normally, I imagine.

Did op ever come back?

Absolutely this.

Yours

A Northern Irish Protestant who says Haitch.

Because it is racist. And anti Catholic. HTH.

If a minority group tells you loud and clear something is discriminatory to that minority group, try listening, yes?

Because it is racist. And anti Catholic. HTH.

If a minority group tells you loud and clear something is discriminatory to that minority group, try listening, yes?

Also this.

Racism against the Irish is the last bastion of acceptable racism it seems at times.