This subtle, quiet breath sound is one of the jewels of the English Alphabet.
It presents itself in a variety of ways.
Firstly, where it is placed at the beginning of a word often requiring our full breath to project the sound for the required impact. For example at the beginning of the word "here" where in an emergency to save lives this sound forms an urgent command.
When we gather our breath and make this sound it is so easy for it to disappear in front of us. Try it now. It can sound like you are running out of breath just like when you run suddenly.
As you can hear in the attached recording the 'h' sound has to be consciously grasped for it to be recognisable and heard. To help do this picture the 'h' sound as a long sound with a definite and continuous flow. Creating a full 'h' sound supports well the sounds of the vowels and consonants that follow it so that in the word 'here', for example, the consonant 'h' provides the two 'e' vowels that follow a safe place within which to be held. At the same time the 'h' supports the consonant r being lengthened.
Secondly, where an 'h' is placed within a word, for example, "inhibited" or "inhale" the 'h' has an incredibly rich enlivening quality that brings the whole word to life. Equally, if you do not use this quality the word goes "flat" and the word and its potential meaning is lost completely.
Try this for your self. Take the breath needed to create the fullest 'h' sound you can in a word and then say the word again where you do not try very hard at all. There will be a real difference. The attached recording gives an example.
The Third common place where 'h' is placed in a word is where it follows immediately after consonants like t or w which are totally reliant upon the sound of the 'h' to bring out their complete qualities, characteristics and strengths.
Take for example the word "where" which needs the 'h' sound to support the w by making it fuller, stronger, longer and with direction. This is why the 'h' sound is so subtle and powerful and reliable. Equally, where it is not used to it's full advantage the sound of the word and it's meaning is lost - without purpose and influence.
A friend of mine who is very keen on language e-mailed me the other day after hearing the following written by Vladislav Khodasevich, a poet, spoken at an event in London:
"But sound is more honest than meaning, and strongest of all is the word."
To exercise and enhance our own individual ability to create full bodied 'h' sounds recite frequently,
"Ha forceful rush. This showers as chaff. From threshers flail."
In this exercise by Dr Rudolf Steiner the consonant 'h' is in a variety of places within the words, which remember, are not intended by him to have any meaning. In particular it enables us to exercise the longer "shhhhh" and "chhhhh' sounds. This exercise also helps develop the ability to form consonantal breath sounds, generally.
I wish you well with consciously creating this sound and using it to it's full potential.
Attached here is a supporting recording. Let me know how the Posts are helping.
The next Post will be my Fourth Instalment Reading of The Green Snake and The Beautiful Lily.
