How to pronounce Whooper (Swan) (1 Viewer)

[pbjosh]

Back to the original question, I've never had Whooper Swans come up as a subject of conversation with any British friends, but all of the Americans and non-native speakers I've ever heard pronounced the w- and not the h-, so wooper more or less. I should guess the original / correct pronunciation would be hwooper or something like that, as per the RSPB video above. These sorts of things are very hard to "enforce" as English spreads around the world and evolves. Given that it's not a word in general use, though, it's pretty far down the list of words that will be pronounced differently / mispronounced in different parts of the world

 

[Jeff Hopkins]

I watched a video recently and the US birders referred to Whooping Cranes (wooping cranes)

That's how I pronounce it.

I have to admit that since I've never seen one in this country, I hadn't ever found the occasion to pronounce Whooper Swan. But I think I'd probably pronounce it with a W and not an H.

 

[Paul Clapham]

When among birders, I feel I should say hooper, but always feel it would be snobbish to do. On the other hand if I say wooper I feel as if I am coming across somewhat uneducated. It is a dilemna.

Out here in western Canada, where one of them actually showed up in a park nearby, everybody present called it a "Hooper Swan". Likewise the "Hooping Crane" although I don't expect one of those to show up here.

 

[Troubador]

When among birders, I feel I should say hooper, but always feel it would be snobbish to do. On the other hand if I say wooper I feel as if I am coming across somewhat uneducated. It is a dilemna.

We are soon visiting Islay for the 28th time. Islay regularly receives visits from Whooper Swans on their way too and from their wintering grounds in Ireland. We have always pronounced Whooper and 'Hooper' and have never heard it pronounced any other way by other birders or RSPB staff on Islay. Cannot imagine why/how anyone could think this is 'snobbish'.

Lee

 

[Earnest lad]

We are soon visiting Islay for the 28th time. Islay regularly receives visits from Whooper Swans on their way too and from their wintering grounds in Ireland. We have always pronounced Whooper as 'Hooper' and have never heard it pronounced any other way by other birders or RSPB staff on Islay. Cannot imagine why/how anyone could think this is 'snobbish'.

Lee

Thats interesting about the RSPB staff on Islay. I was just thinking that as with some other species the name is related to the call it makes (same for example as "whooping cough".) I think most people always say "hooping cough" but I think the RSPB probably have it right

 

[Earnest lad]

Well thank you to everyone for what has been for me educational. I think outcome is that both pronunications are used. Perhaps wooping is used more in modern times compared to the other but both are certainly still extant.

 

[dantheman]

We are soon visiting Islay for the 28th time. Islay regularly receives visits from Whooper Swans on their way too and from their wintering grounds in Ireland. We have always pronounced Whooper and 'Hooper' and have never heard it pronounced any other way by other birders or RSPB staff on Islay. Cannot imagine why/how anyone could think this is 'snobbish'.

Lee

Did you mean 'as'?

The first time I called this bird when with others I pronounced it 'Wooper' and was laughed at. Always 'Hooper' since.


In most words 'who' is pronounced with a silent w, or similar I think (whose/whomsoever etc)

But in some words with a double 'o' such as whoop and Whooping Crane* the w is pronounced. (Both words could be American?) Then we have whooping cough (hooping cough) as mentioned.


*(Exception being W Canada at least as above?)

 

[Earnest lad]

That makes sense to me. I suspect hoop would be regarding by etymologists as correct or used to be correct. But I guess we shouldnt start being snobbish about how to say it. Also hoop might be archaic - but I will leave that to the dictionary corner.

 

[MJB]

Also as a Scot, Wales and Whales are homophobic. As are what and Watt. Whoop and hoop are clearly different (woop & hoop).
Also, what's a skalwp? Where (same as wear) on earth did that extra "L" come from?

btw it's a hooper swan so being named after its whoop sound, which I pronounce as woop, is a bit odd I'll grant you.

Despite their intelligence, I seriously doubt if whales are homophobic...

On another point, discerning the sound difference between the 'wh' in 'whales' and the 'w' in 'Wales' may be difficult for many people because the human brain tends to hardwire pronunciation discrimination as early as the age of 5. This is particularly noticeable in people whose first language is tonally based (for example, Chinese and Japanese) when they learn languages that are not tonally based (hence the many jokes a few years ago about their seeming inability to pronounce 'r'). There is also considerable research that indicates that native English speakers who speak with little inflection and those who 'drone' when they are attempting to sing often have problems in understanding people whose voices are inflected. That said, I find great difficulty in understanding people who speak very quickly in monotone...
MJB

 

[MJB]

Yes, some of my colleagues in South Carolina pronounce the wh- an w- differently (and wikipedia agrees).

I have always heard people say "Hooper" as is done in this RSPB video.

That pronunciation in that video makes me want to shout at the screen...!
MJB

 

[dantheman]

That pronunciation in that video makes me want to shout at the screen...!
MJB

Yes, it should be said in more of a monotone imo.

(Less of an upward inflection at the beginning?!) ;-)

 

[Troubador]

Did you mean 'as'?

The first time I called this bird when with others I pronounced it 'Wooper' and was laughed at. Always 'Hooper' since.


In most words 'who' is pronounced with a silent w, or similar I think (whose/whomsoever etc)

But in some words with a double 'o' such as whoop and Whooping Crane* the w is pronounced. (Both words could be American?) Then we have whooping cough (hooping cough) as mentioned.


*(Exception being W Canada at least as above?)

Yes, thanks Dan I have edited.
Lee

 

[Troubador]

Yes, it should be said in more of a monotone imo.

(Less of an upward inflection at the beginning?!) ;-)

I had an 'upward inflection' once but you can get a cream now to reduce the discomfort.

Lee

 

[pianoman]

We pronounce both the w and the h in all WH- words where I come from (except perhaps "Who")

And it was pronounced through most of the UK less than 100 years ago, it is only a relatively recent change to pronounce only the W in WH- words

 

[Snapdragyn]

I've always pronounced it as 'hooping' crane, & saw them a few times when I lived in Texas. I never knew anyone even said 'wooping' crane.

 

[Richard D]

We pronounce both the w and the h in all WH- words where I come from (except perhaps "Who")

And it was pronounced through most of the UK less than 100 years ago, it is only a relatively recent change to pronounce only the W in WH- words

Most WH words were originally HW in Middle-English derived from the Anglo-Saxon. The dropping of the H sound was very regional - Southern England pretty much dropped it by the 13th Century, but it was/is still pronounced in some places.

Pronunciation of English ⟨wh⟩ - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Of course H as Haitch or Aitch as gone in and out of fashion too...

 

[McMadd]

If it bothers you that much, change the name to Singing Swan...it's our national bird and that's what we call it...Laulujoutsen

 

[Earnest lad]

Most WH words were originally HW in Middle-English derived from the Anglo-Saxon. The dropping of the H sound was very regional - Southern England pretty much dropped it by the 13th Century, but it was/is still pronounced in some places.

Pronunciation of English ⟨wh⟩ - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Of course H as Haitch or Aitch as gone in and out of fashion too...

That is most informative. Thank you.

 

[Earnest lad]

I've always pronounced it as 'hooping' crane, & saw them a few times when I lived in Texas. I never knew anyone even said 'wooping' crane.

I appreciate your helpful input. May l for elucidation purpose show this video (go to 50 seconds in)

 

[Snapdragyn]

I appreciate your helpful input. May l for elucidation purpose show this video (go to 50 seconds in)

Ah, regional variation w/in the U.S. then.