Eeek. More reasons I will never learn this language!
Old English had a very tiny version of that long/short consonant thing...I think. It had dots over g and c to indicate whether they were pronounced "guh" or "yuh," in the case of g, or like "k" or "ch." They sometimes didn't have dots, and it was understood which sound they took by which vowels were around them. Apparently Irish orthography developed this same way when the printing press became prevalent; no room for dots, so they became understood.
Boy, did English-speaking folks do a number on ethnic names!
But can you blame them? ;)
I love that Bill Bryson quote. And it's one of my many dreams to write something in a similar style to him, so thanks! *g*
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2006-08-22 04:54 am (UTC)Old English had a very tiny version of that long/short consonant thing...I think. It had dots over g and c to indicate whether they were pronounced "guh" or "yuh," in the case of g, or like "k" or "ch." They sometimes didn't have dots, and it was understood which sound they took by which vowels were around them. Apparently Irish orthography developed this same way when the printing press became prevalent; no room for dots, so they became understood.
Boy, did English-speaking folks do a number on ethnic names!
But can you blame them? ;)
I love that Bill Bryson quote. And it's one of my many dreams to write something in a similar style to him, so thanks! *g*