Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing
Why English has silent letters. Dayjamas.
Dec 26, 2023
Learn about the prevalence of silent letters in English spelling and the fascinating stories behind them. Explore the historical use of suffixes and the challenges of spelling reforms. Discover the evolution of English pronunciations and a language-learning app. Dive into the borrowed origins and spelling variations of the word 'pajamas'.
19:52
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- Silent letters in the English language have historical origins and contribute to the fascinating history of English spelling.
- The word pajamas originated in Urdu and Persian, and its spelling differs between British English and American English.
Deep dives
Exploring Silent Letters in English Spelling
The English spelling system is notorious for its silent letters, with more than half of the letters in the alphabet being silent in some words. This is due to historical reasons, including mismatched spellings from the Middle English period and changing phonotactic rules. One prominent example is the silent E at the end of words, which originated in Middle English to indicate a long vowel sound. Other silent consonant letters, such as K in words like knife, WR in words like wrong, and GN in words like gnaw, have disappeared over time. Greek borrowings and French influences have also contributed to silent letters. Despite reform efforts, silent letters persist and are part of the fascinating history of English spelling.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
