kn words

Discussion in 'Linguistics' started by mathman, Sep 7, 2021.

  1. mathman Valued Senior Member

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    There are words in English starting with kn (know, knight, etc.) where the k is silent. Where did this construct come from?
     
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  3. DaveC426913 Valued Senior Member

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  5. C C Consular Corps - "the backbone of diplomacy" Valued Senior Member

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    The K was uttered in Old English, but became vestigial by 1750.

    Oh drear,
    Why address a dead and buried matter?
    Because 'twas still as Santa's night in here.
    Someone had to break the peace with chatter.
     
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  7. exchemist Valued Senior Member

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    It's Germanic.

    Knecht, a servant became knight.
    And knopf is a knob.

    And so on.
     
  8. Kristoffer Giant Hyrax Valued Senior Member

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    We also pronounce the k's and the g's in Denmark.
    Knægt, kniv, Knud, gnu, gnier, knævre, knæk are some examples.
     
  9. DaveC426913 Valued Senior Member

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    In French it became kinniggit!

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  10. sideshowbob Sorry, wrong number. Valued Senior Member

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    " A kneekt there woz, and that a warthy mon.... (My 11th grade English teacher reading Chaucer to us.)
     
  11. mathman Valued Senior Member

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  12. DaveC426913 Valued Senior Member

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    That's the beauty of Google. Many, many things can be discovered on one's own.
     
  13. Michael 345 New year. PRESENT is 72 years oldl Valued Senior Member

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    If you have the knack

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  14. DaveC426913 Valued Senior Member

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    And only if you knuckle under and do it.

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  15. Sarkus Hippomonstrosesquippedalo phobe Valued Senior Member

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    Knock it off, you two.

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  16. DaveC426913 Valued Senior Member

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    Michael started it. He's such a knob.
     
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  17. Michael 345 New year. PRESENT is 72 years oldl Valued Senior Member

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    The rest of you are knock kneed

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