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English has a special place in its heart for places named with silent letters. Cholmondely, for instance, which is pronounced Chumley; Bicester, pronounced Bister; Gloucester pronounced Gloster; Beaulieu pronounced Bewly; Worcester pronounced Wooster; and so ad infinitum. Marylebone is an interesting one, mainly because there are several theories on how it should be pronounced. Personally, I prefer Marlybon, but there are many others. Why do they have silent letters? Usually because they're French words that we have enjoyed corrupting so that they sound English. We're perfectly capable of saying them in the French way but it just gives us a mellow feeling to be as rude to them as possible. Then there are the actual words with silent letters. Psychology is just one of the many beginning with PS. No doubt something to do with the Greeks, that one. Then there are those French words that we Britify and you Americans get right for a change. You may say "filay of fish," but we say "fillet." Usually we both mangle any French words that dare show themselves in English. Champagne is an example - pronounced Sham pain. Homage pronounced homage and not ommarge. But I stray off the point. Suffice it to say that words with silent letters are often the result of English stealing words from other languages, but it can also be that we once pronounced the silent letters but, through laziness or the need for speed, we shortened it. I suspect that all languages do this but English, having been on such an extensive world tour, has bumped into more foreign tongues than any other and has made the most of these innumerable opportunities. |
Re: QOTD: Monday, June 3rd · 06-03-24 11:13am 
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