Þ: Difference between revisions
imported>Ro Thorpe (better word?) |
imported>Domergue Sumien (use in English: þe, ye, the) |
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'''Þ, þ''' is a letter of the [[Runic alphabet]], later adopted in some variants of the [[Latin alphabet]]: in [[Icelandic]], in [[Old English|Old]] and [[Middle English]] as well as in earlier stages of the Scandinavian languages. Its English name is '''thorn''' [ˈθɔː(ɹ)n]. It was pronounced [θ] or [ð] in English, depending on its position in the word. It is pronounced [θ] in Icelandic. | '''Þ, þ''' is a letter of the [[Runic alphabet]], later adopted in some variants of the [[Latin alphabet]]: in [[Icelandic]], in [[Old English|Old]] and [[Middle English]] as well as in earlier stages of the Scandinavian languages. Its English name is '''thorn''' [ˈθɔː(ɹ)n]. It was pronounced [θ] or [ð] in English, depending on its position in the word. It is pronounced [θ] in Icelandic. | ||
==Use in English== | |||
During the [[Middle English]] period, ''þ'' was replaced progressively by the digraph ''[[th (digraph)|th]]''. Simultaneously, [[calligraphy]] used to make ''þ'' more and more similar to ''y''. The only remnant of ''þ'' in current English is the definite article ''ye'', pronounced [ji] and perceived as archaic variant of ''the'' in commercial or humoristic names such as ''Ye Olde Shoppe'' ('The Old Shop'). In fact, ''ye'' [ji] has never existed. It is nothing but an erroneous reading of the old spelling ''þe'' for ''the''. | |||
Revision as of 08:16, 28 December 2008
Þ, þ is a letter of the Runic alphabet, later adopted in some variants of the Latin alphabet: in Icelandic, in Old and Middle English as well as in earlier stages of the Scandinavian languages. Its English name is thorn [ˈθɔː(ɹ)n]. It was pronounced [θ] or [ð] in English, depending on its position in the word. It is pronounced [θ] in Icelandic.
Use in English
During the Middle English period, þ was replaced progressively by the digraph th. Simultaneously, calligraphy used to make þ more and more similar to y. The only remnant of þ in current English is the definite article ye, pronounced [ji] and perceived as archaic variant of the in commercial or humoristic names such as Ye Olde Shoppe ('The Old Shop'). In fact, ye [ji] has never existed. It is nothing but an erroneous reading of the old spelling þe for the.