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Episode 44: The Romance of Old French

The History of English Podcast

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The Evolution of the Latin Word 'Copet'

This chapter explores the history and evolution of the Latin word 'copet', which meant head. It explains how this Latin word gave rise to words like 'cap' and 'cape' in Old English through borrowing. The chapter then delves into the influence of French on the pronunciation of words related to 'copet', tracing the shift from the earlier CH sound to the later SH sound in words like 'chappo' and 'chef'. It also highlights the timing of French borrowings, with words before the 1400s having the older CH pronunciation and words after having the newer SH pronunciation.

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