The Hindi 3rd person singular proximal and distal pronouns यह and वह are commonly pronounced [jeː] and [ʋoː], in contrast to the [hyper-correct?] pronunciations [jəɦ(ə)] and [ʋəɦ(ə)] one might expect from their spellings.
Why are these words spelled this way given their pronunciation? Apart from word-internal schwa syncope, Modern Standard Hindi pronunciation is generally predictable from spelling, so this seems an odd departure.
I tried to research this but found little credible information. Some possible reasons that jump to mind:
1. They used to be pronounced as spelled, but have since evolved (possibly influenced by the plural forms).
2. A specific dialect pronounces them this way (that influenced the standard spelling).
3. A phenomenon similar to how [ɛ] occurs as an allophone of /ə/ in /əɦə/ environments (e.g. बहन /bəɦən/ > [bɛɦ(ɛ)n]), or how [ɔ] occurs as an allophone of /ə/ and rounded vowels in /əɦV[+round]/ or /V[+round]ɦə/ environments* (e.g. बहुत /bəhʊt̪/ > [bɔhɔt̪])?
* i.e. /əɦʊ, əɦuː, əɦoː, əɦɔː/
/ʊɦə, uːɦə, oːɦə, ɔːɦə/
