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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

CONTRACTIONS IN ENGLISH GRAMMAR

When were contractions first used in writing or speech in the English language? Where (locale) were contractions first used?

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Top answer

Hi Anon; Anonymous When were contractions first used in writing or speech in the English language? In speech, I'd say that people used contractions from the dawn of the language. It's kind of natural in speech to run words together.

— AlpheccaStars

  • Hi Anon; Anonymous When were contractions first used in writing or speech in the English language?
  • In speech, I'd say that people used contractions from the dawn of the language.
  • It's kind of natural in speech to run words together.
  • But there is no way to tell for sure, since we have no recordings!
  • In writing, Chaucer's Canterbury tales (1387-1400) does not use contractions (I scanned most of the Middle English prolog and saw none.
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1 Answers
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Hi Anon;
AnonymousWhen were contractions first used in writing or speech in the English language?
In speech, I'd say that people used contractions from the dawn of the language. It's kind of natural in speech to run words together.
But there is no way to tell for sure, since we have no recordings!

In writing, Chaucer's Canterbury tales (1387-140
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