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Americans and the word HERBS


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Old 19-05-2014, 11:25
pearlsandplums
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Putting a G in parmesan is pretty annoying too
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Old 19-05-2014, 13:04
walterwhite
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What could possibly make you angry about someone pronouncing risotto different to you?
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Old 19-05-2014, 13:05
walterwhite
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They were talking about Sunchokes on Hell's kitchen a while back. I thought it was a thing id never heard of. its a jerusalem artichoke.
I would call spring onions scallions
I agree with that one. They aren't artichokes so why call them that!
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Old 19-05-2014, 13:08
walterwhite
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Putting a G in parmesan is pretty annoying too
You mean pronouncing it just like Italians do?
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Old 21-05-2014, 08:56
norbitonite
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You mean pronouncing it just like Italians do?
No, because the Italians call it parmagiano (sp?), whereas some Americans pronounce it parmazhuhn.

American pronunciations do tend to 'leap out' a little, not least because they are neither one thing nor the other - neitjer saying them as they would be said in the original language nor as they are written.

In addition to the cheese example, above there is the word 'filet'. In Britain we say 'fillitt' in France 'FEElay' but on American cookery shows it's often 'fiLAAY'. And for the original example of herbs, the French would pronounce the word herbes as 'erb', whereas the American version we seem to get on the TV shows is 'urb'.

The one that bemuses me is why on menus in the US the call the main course the entrée, when this is French for starter?

I love the differences in language.
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Old 21-05-2014, 13:09
walterwhite
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No, because the Italians call it parmagiano (sp?), whereas some Americans pronounce it parmazhuhn.

American pronunciations do tend to 'leap out' a little, not least because they are neither one thing nor the other - neitjer saying them as they would be said in the original language nor as they are written.

In addition to the cheese example, above there is the word 'filet'. In Britain we say 'fillitt' in France 'FEElay' but on American cookery shows it's often 'fiLAAY'. And for the original example of herbs, the French would pronounce the word herbes as 'erb', whereas the American version we seem to get on the TV shows is 'urb'.

The one that bemuses me is why on menus in the US the call the main course the entrée, when this is French for starter?

I love the differences in language.
Interesting thought that in a lot of cases the American pronounciation is closer to the original than the British. I don't see why people have to get so upset about it personally.
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Old 21-05-2014, 14:10
WombatDeath
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Eddie Izzard has already addressed this issue:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs5H7cgcpkg
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Old 21-05-2014, 23:50
Wolfsheadish
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They drop the H because they think it's French. They think a lot of words are French...
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Old 22-05-2014, 00:23
Paradise_Lost
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I guess it sounds like it does in French. They leave the 'h' out too when they say 'les herbes'.

The americans probably got it from English originally - I bet a lot of westcountry accents in England omit the 'h' too. "'Ave you got any urbs moi luver?" etc
American accents have nought to do with the West Country. I don't know why some people believe this. The only place in North America with established roots to a West Country accent is Newfoundland.
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Old 22-05-2014, 00:24
Marc_Anthony1
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They are just dickhe*ds really. Incredibly annoying.
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Old 22-05-2014, 00:31
Paradise_Lost
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They drop the H because they think it's French.
More likely it's just what they learnt growing up, not knowing any other way.
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Old 22-05-2014, 01:19
John_Elway
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What a stupid thread... expect other speaking countries to speak the same as the UK?
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Old 22-05-2014, 01:20
John_Elway
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Interesting thought that in a lot of cases the American pronounciation is closer to the original than the British. I don't see why people have to get so upset about it personally.
it's their ego
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Old 22-05-2014, 13:06
walterwhite
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They are just dickhe*ds really. Incredibly annoying.
What a stupid and ignorant comment.
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Old 22-05-2014, 14:00
epicurian
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They are just dickhe*ds really. Incredibly annoying.
Is that a silent 'h' in Anthony?
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Old 22-05-2014, 15:35
Teddybleads
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Everyone has their quirks. I still pronounce the G in Tagliatelle even though I know it's wrong.

Not a food one but the US pronunciation of nievety is naïveté which again comes from the French but sounds odd to my ears.
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Old 22-05-2014, 17:55
Toby LaRhone
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Eddie Izzard has already addressed this issue:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs5H7cgcpkg
And very succinctly
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Old 22-05-2014, 18:14
Chris Mark
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They drop the H because they think it's French. They think a lot of words are French...
More likely it's just what they learnt growing up, not knowing any other way.
Well it is a direct borrowing from the Old French word 'erbe' (itself descended from Latin 'herba') which became the modern French word 'herbe' as well, as a loanword in English the 'h' was restored in the 15th century. However, the 'h' was muted until the 19th century and remains so in the US.
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Old 22-05-2014, 18:41
Bex_123
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They are just dickhe*ds really. Incredibly annoying.
Yup, pronunciation conversations on here do show up the dickhe*ds, you are correct.
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Old 23-05-2014, 02:05
Pixie Queen
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British and European chefs who say things the way they say them in their first language when they are on the telly in the UK or European countries but say them different when it's an American telly thing ----- GRRRRRR ............. oregano is a brilliant example - this really pisses on my bonfire.

I understand and comprehend that stuff has different names in different places. I get this... I don't get the ****wits who visit another country for 2 weeks and then forget that in the UK and most of Europe Cilantro is something mysterious to do with a womans "bits". They need to keep in mind we want to know about coriander and if it will improve our curry or should we pop it on our salads.
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Old 23-05-2014, 14:30
BlueEyedMrsP
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American accents have nought to do with the West Country. I don't know why some people believe this. The only place in North America with established roots to a West Country accent is Newfoundland.
I've met my fair share of Newfies and most of them sound more Irish than anything. Their accent is unique in Canada because they're somewhat isolated and not influenced by other cultures and languages.

Regarding the pronunciation of the word 'herb', I never though that omitting the 'h' was odd as it's done in many other words like hour and heirloom. Besides, there are many British folk who omit the 'h' in words like hospital, him, her, house, etc.
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Old 23-05-2014, 19:55
speedy_gonzales
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it doesn't bother me how Americans pronounce herbs,what really bothers me is the way scousers pronounce cook.
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Old 23-05-2014, 19:57
degsyhufc
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Cook and Look as in Luke?

My mam was born in Manchester and she pronounced it like that. I've always said book as in buck.
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Old 23-05-2014, 20:17
EuroChris
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What is it with Americans and herbs ??
Why don't they pronounce the H ??
In America, is the word SPELT with an H or not ??
I'm watching Anna Olson on the Food Network, and it's " ERBS ERBS ERBS "
AAAAAAARRRRGGGHHHHHH !
I've always found it bizarre how they drop the 'H' for Herb but, to the best of my knowledge, they don't drop the 'H' for other words beginning with that letter.
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Old 23-05-2014, 20:28
epicurian
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I've always found it bizarre how they drop the 'H' for Herb but, to the best of my knowledge, they don't drop the 'H' for other words beginning with that letter.
Well, it's already been mentioned in the thread, but I'm American and I don't pronounce the 'H' for honor, heir, honest nor hour? Do you?
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