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Ecossais Posted 17 years ago
Linguistics Studies
Double consonants f, l, k, s, z in verb's infinitive
Hi!
I've noticed that in the infinitive form of verbs usually f, l, k(in ck), s, z are doubled in the end. I don't mean doubling when you add -ing or -ed. Why other consonant letters(b,d,g,n,m,p,r,t,v) are not doubled (except add, ebb, inn)? Can anybody explain me? Are there historical or etymological reasons of doubling only these letters? Or is it just a written convention or tradition?
So I suspect that v isn't doubled not to confuse with w. J isn't because there is a convention to write -dge or -ge in the end. But why not b,d,g,n,m,p,r,t?
I've also found that some words with doubling came from French or other foreign languages where these letters were doubled(for example, bluff from Dutch bluffen). Or in an Old English word the letters were doubled so in a Modern English one also. But sometimes an original word was written with one letter but in Modern English it became doubled (for example, Old English mylen became modern mill). And vice versa: for example, Latin admittere became admit.
So why? I haven't found any scientific explanation of this phenomena in the web or books.
Maybe you know? Have you any suggestion?
I've noticed that in the infinitive form of verbs usually f, l, k(in ck), s, z are doubled in the end. I don't mean doubling when you add -ing or -ed. Why other consonant letters(b,d,g,n,m,p,r,t,v) are not doubled (except add, ebb, inn)? Can anybody explain me? Are there historical or etymological reasons of doubling only these letters? Or is it just a written convention or tradition?
So I suspect that v isn't doubled not to confuse with w. J isn't because there is a convention to write -dge or -ge in the end. But why not b,d,g,n,m,p,r,t?
I've also found that some words with doubling came from French or other foreign languages where these letters were doubled(for example, bluff from Dutch bluffen). Or in an Old English word the letters were doubled so in a Modern English one also. But sometimes an original word was written with one letter but in Modern English it became doubled (for example, Old English mylen became modern mill). And vice versa: for example, Latin admittere became admit.
So why? I haven't found any scientific explanation of this phenomena in the web or books.
Maybe you know? Have you any suggestion?
Top answer
It is just convention. English spelling is not 100% consistent or regular. There have been many attempts at spelling reform, but none so far has gained any traction.
- It is just convention.
- English spelling is not 100% consistent or regular.
- There have been many attempts at spelling reform, but none so far has gained any traction.
- There is no "academy" for English, as there can be for other languages.
- The convention may be based on the origins of the words in Latin, Greek, Germanic, or others such as Old French.
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3 Answers
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It is just convention.
English spelling is not 100% consistent or regular. There have been many attempts at spelling reform, but none so far has gained any traction. There is no "academy" for English, as there can be for other languages. The convention may be based on the origins of the words in Latin, Greek, Germanic, or others such as Old French.
That being said, though, I tried
English spelling is not 100% consistent or regular. There have been many attempts at spelling reform, but none so far has gained any traction. There is no "academy" for English, as there can be for other languages. The convention may be based on the origins of the words in Latin, Greek, Germanic, or others such as Old French.
That being said, though, I tried
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Thank you very much!
How could I ignore the fact that all of these letters represent continuants? Yeah, your hypothesis is very, very probable. Thank you again, you've cleared it up for me.
P.S. As to your note. You are absolutely right but I've found inn as a verb in the Oxford dictionary. Although it is an obsolete word and came from the noun inn.
Here is the fu
How could I ignore the fact that all of these letters represent continuants? Yeah, your hypothesis is very, very probable. Thank you again, you've cleared it up for me.
P.S. As to your note. You are absolutely right but I've found inn as a verb in the Oxford dictionary. Although it is an obsolete word and came from the noun inn.
Here is the fu
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ecossaisexcept add, ebb, innThese are one-syllable content words that begin with a vowel. I think that, psychologically perhaps, we like content words (nouns, verbs, etc., rather than determiners, prepositions, and conjunctions) to have at least three letters.
add, ebb, egg, inn, odd
But an, in, at, as, if, on, us
If there w
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