/h/ dropping in connected speech

 

/h/ dropping in connected speech

Initial /h/ is dropped (not pronounced) from function words in certain situations. Examples of ‘h’-function words are forms of the ‘have’ verb (have, has, had) and pronouns that begin with ‘h’ (he, his, him, her). The situation that allows the ‘h’ dropping is when these words are in the middle of a sentence and unstressed. If they are stressed (e.g., for emphasis or contrast) or if they begin a sentence, the ‘h’ is not dropped. So for instance, the ‘H’ in “He’s ok” or “Have they done it?” is pronounced, but the ‘h’ in “Is he ok?” or “John has done it” is not pronounced. 

Initial /h/ is only dropped when the word is unstressed in the sentence, so in addition to dropping the /h/, the vowel often becomes /ə/, as we learned in the chapter on vowels. The remaining sound is as follows: 

have /əv/; has /əz/

he /i/; his /iz/ or /əz/; him /im/ or /əm/; her /ər/, them /əm/

Once the ‘h’ is dropped, we need to connect the remaining vowel with the consonant sound that comes before it. By connecting them, the two words sound like one word. These are examples where ‘h’ is dropped, 

The ‘h’ pronouns

tell him /telɪm/; tell her /telər/

give him /gɪvɪm/; give her /gɪvər/

was he /wəzɪ/; is he /ɪzɪ/

The ‘have’ verb

John has done it.

She has seen it.

I should have worked: /ʃʊɾəv/ 

I would have done that (/wʊɾəv/)

(The ‘d’ in would become a flap-T. The IPA symbol for the flap T is [ɾ].)

These sentences can be even more shortened through contraction where the vowels of function words are also dropped. 

John’s done it.

She’s seen it.

I’d’ve [aɪɾəv] worked. 

I’d’ve [aɪɾəv] done that. 

In the most rapid speech, common in American English, the final consonant of the function word may also be dropped:

I’d’ve  [aɪda] worked

I’d’ve  [aɪda] done that