Utenti:Michiluzzu Scalisi/English/Note 3

Note 3

H has three pronunciations, depending on its placement within a word. In regards to the last two pronunciations, it's important to remember that there is no way to be sure if the pronunciation is /x/ or /h/. In the future, hopefully, a point under the letter, or some other identifying mark, will be added to /h/ in order to distinguish it from the other.

First Pronunciation

The first pronunciation - /~/ - takes place when following a C or G:

Letter	Pronunciation	Example	Pronunciation	Significato italiano	Meaning in English
h	/~/	Micheli	/mɪ'kɛlɪ/	Michele	Michael
		figghi	/'fiɣɣɪ/	figli	sons, children

Second Pronunciation

The second pronunciation - /x/ - takes place whenever H is not preceded by a C or G, unless it is to have the third pronunciation. As I said above, as of yet there is no way to distinguish between this and the third pronunciation, but hopefully one will be introduced in the future. The root of this pronunciation is the Latin consonant cluster FL, i.e. florem, which produced Sicilian "hiuri". This H is always accompanied by an I in hiatus:

Letter	Pronunciation	Example	Pronunciation	Significato italiano	Meaning in English
h	/x/	hiuri	/'xjuɾɪ/	fiore	flower
		ahhiari	/ɐx'xjaɾɪ/	trovare	to find

Third Pronunciation

The third pronunciation - /h/ - may also take place whenever H is not preceded by a C or G, unless it is to have the second pronunciation. As I said above, as of yet there is no way to distinguish between this and the second pronunciation, but hopefully one will be introduced in the future.

Letter	Pronunciation	Example	Pronunciation	Significato italiano	Meaning in English
h	/h/	mahotu	/mɐ'hɔtʊ/	moccio	mucus, snot