Why is ホワイト spelled as it is?


What is the precise etymology of the word? Was it borrowed at the time when it
was pronounced `[hwait]` or they just perceived it like that?




Yes, it is derived from English classical pronunciation **_wh_ /hw/**. English
**_wh_ + vowel** is transcribed using **ホワ /howa/, ホエ /hoe/, ホイ /hoi/** in
Japanese.

( In other words, English **_wh_ /hw/** is transcribed as **/how/** in
Japanese, but loses its **/w/** sound when followed by a vowel other than
**/a/** , because only **/a/** can follow **/w/** in traditional modern
Japanese.)

When English words were first introduced and sound transcription rules were
gradually formed, they tried as far as possible to keep distinctive English
sounds being distinctive in Japanese too.

At least, in this case, English **_wh_ /hw/** had to be transcribed as
different from both English **/f/** and **/w/**.

So, under the conservative phonetic system of those days, which only allowed
syllables listed in traditional modern 五十音図, English **/f/, /w/** and **/hw/**
became to be most likely rendered following rules as below:

>   1. **En. /f/ > Jp. /hu/ :**  
>  e.g. _fat_ フアット **/huaQto/** -- _fair_ フエア **/huea/** -- _fit_ フイット
> **/huiQto/**
>   2. **En. /w/ > Jp. /w/ before /a/, /u/ otherwise :**  
>  e.g. _watt_ ワット **/waQto/** -- _wear_ ウエア **/uea/** -- _wit_ ウイット
> **/uiQto/**
>   3. **En. /hw/ > Jp. /how/ before /a/, /ho/ otherwise :**  
>  e.g. _what_ ホワット **/howaQto/** -- _where_ ホエア **/hoea/** -- _whip_ ホイップ
> **/hoiQpu/**
>

Subsequently, as for lines #1 and #2 above, non-traditional sounds like ファット
**/FaQto/** , フェア **/Fea/** , ウィット **/wiQto/** , etc. gradually came into use.
But sounds of #3 seem to remain unchanged until now.




Yes, it is derived from English classical pronunciation **_wh_ /hw/**. English
**_wh_ + vowel** is transcribed using **ホワ /howa/, ホエ /hoe/, ホイ /hoi/** in
Japanese.

( In other words, English **_wh_ /hw/** is transcribed as **/how/** in
Japanese, but loses its **/w/** sound when followed by a vowel other than
**/a/** , because only **/a/** can follow **/w/** in traditional modern
Japanese.)

When English words were first introduced and sound transcription rules were
gradually formed, they tried as far as possible to keep distinctive English
sounds being distinctive in Japanese too.

At least, in this case, English **_wh_ /hw/** had to be transcribed as
different from both English **/f/** and **/w/**.

So, under the conservative phonetic system of those days, which only allowed
syllables listed in traditional modern 五十音図, English **/f/, /w/** and **/hw/**
became to be most likely rendered following rules as below:

>   1. **En. /f/ > Jp. /hu/ :**  
>  e.g. _fat_ フアット **/huaQto/** -- _fair_ フエア **/huea/** -- _fit_ フイット
> **/huiQto/**
>   2. **En. /w/ > Jp. /w/ before /a/, /u/ otherwise :**  
>  e.g. _watt_ ワット **/waQto/** -- _wear_ ウエア **/uea/** -- _wit_ ウイット
> **/uiQto/**
>   3. **En. /hw/ > Jp. /how/ before /a/, /ho/ otherwise :**  
>  e.g. _what_ ホワット **/howaQto/** -- _where_ ホエア **/hoea/** -- _whip_ ホイップ
> **/hoiQpu/**
>

Subsequently, as for lines #1 and #2 above, non-traditional sounds like ファット
**/FaQto/** , フェア **/Fea/** , ウィット **/wiQto/** , etc. gradually came into use.
But sounds of #3 seem to remain unchanged until now.

