What is the origin of the word answer? Why is there a "w" in the spelling?Scott Mariash
Scott, your enquiry left me guessing. So I looked up the etymology of "Answer" in the OED online and this is what it says:
answer, n.
[OE. andswaru, cogn. with OS. antswôr, OFris. (ontswer) ondser, ON. andsvar, annsvar, Dan. and Sw. ansvar, OTeut. *andswarâ-; f. and- against, in reply + *swarâ- affirmation, swearing, f. OTeut. *swarjan, Goth. swaran, OE. sw rian to affirm, swear. The original meaning was thus a solemn affirmation made to rebut a charge.] So it's clear that the "w" comes in from the root "swarjan" to swear - so answer and swear share a common source. It's just that the "w" is now silent. I can't help you with when that happened, but many Elizabethan pronunciations were much more literal than now - which is why they were spelled that way ...
Simon Elmes, Exec Producer
In the first series, Melvyn Bragg quoted a poem about the difficulties of English language. Can you tell me a source for this poem as the source suggested to me is now out of print?
The poem we used was entitled 'Why English is so Hard' and is from an anthology by Raymond Wilson called 'Nine O'Clock Bell: Poems About School'. We haven't got the publisher’s name to hand, but are endeavouring to find out. We assume from the problems we have had in tracking it down that it is out of print.
Simon Elmes, Exec Producer
Hello. I live in the United States and I was wondering why Webster changed the spelling of American words? I rather like spelling colour over color. It seems more ... well, colourful. I'd also like to know why our language isn't spelled phonetically like many other languages.
I think I know the answer, but to be really sure, check out David Crystal's brilliant Cambridge Encyclopaedia of the English Language (Cambridge University Press). Our bible. The spelling reform was an attempt to simplify and make more like the pronunciation and eliminate unnecessary letters. Bernard Shaw was also keen. Do you know his little joke? How do you pronounce GHOTI?
Answer: "fish" Gh as in "enough", o as in "women" and ti as in "attention".Crazy spelling, British English - but we love it too. This place is in Norfolk, England:HAPPISBURGH - pronounced??????? HAZE - BURRUH.
Simon Elmes, Exec Producer
In Braveheart, what language did Lowland Scots people speak at that time? And what language did the Scottish lords really speak?
French was probably the language the lords would have used among themselves. But it's safe to say that, by Wallace's time, most of them would have had full fluency in Gaelic, Scots or both. They would have used the appropriate native language in speaking to their followers and tenants.
The northern dialect of Anglo-Saxon was later to develop into the Lowland Scots tongue - though nobody had as yet thought of naming it Scots. Gaelic was spoken over a far wider area than today - right down the west coast and into Galloway, and over the whole Highland massif. Wallace, who was born in Renfrewshire, would have had Gaelic as his mother tongue and (most probably) Scots as a learned language.
Derrick McClure, University of Aberdeen
I'd like to know how much English has been expanded by Navy sayings and how much language comes from the Services? On a different note, I'd also like to know how much our intonation is changing. I note that a lot of young people are using a rising intonation. Changes in intonation and accent fascinate me - watch a pre-war British film to see what I mean! Su Martin
The intonation you refer to is called 'upspeak' and research shows it is prevalent particularly among young women. Australian soaps have been cited as an influence, though the rising intonation has long been a feature of certain regional British Englishes, notably Belfast and Bristol.
If you want facts and figures on Services terms in the English language, contact Oxford Word and Language Service, OUP, Walton St, Oxford, OX2 6AB - a free service.
Simon Elmes, Exec Producer
As someone deeply immersed in the study of language and etymology, let's delve into the intricacies of the concepts mentioned in the provided article.
1. Origin of the Word "Answer": The origin of the word "answer" can be traced back to Old English, where it was "andswaru." This term is cognate with words in other Germanic languages, such as Old Frisian, Old Norse, Danish, and Swedish. The root components are "and-" meaning "against" or "in reply" and "*swarâ-" related to affirmation, swearing, or taking an oath. The verb "swear" is connected to this root. The original meaning of "answer" was a solemn affirmation made to rebut a charge.
2. The "W" in the Spelling: The inclusion of the letter "w" in the spelling of "answer" can be attributed to the Old English root "*swarjan," which is related to the act of swearing. Over time, the pronunciation of the "w" became silent, but its presence in the spelling reflects the historical connection to the root shared with the word "swear."
3. Spelling Changes and Phonetics: The discussion shifts to the changes in English spelling and the phonetic nature of language. The mention of Webster's spelling changes in American English leads to a reference to David Crystal's "Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language." The spelling reforms aimed to simplify and align spelling with pronunciation, eliminating unnecessary letters. This aligns with the broader historical context of spelling changes.
4. Bernard Shaw's Spelling Joke: A humorous note is introduced with Bernard Shaw's playful example of the word "GHOTI," pronounced as "fish." This example underscores the idiosyncrasies and irregularities in English spelling, contributing to its unique character.
5. Language Use in Braveheart: The inquiry about the languages spoken in the movie "Braveheart" provides insights into historical language usage. While French might have been the language of communication among lords, by the time of William Wallace, proficiency in Gaelic, Scots, or both would have been common among the Scottish lords and their followers.
6. Influence of Navy Sayings on English: The article touches on the influence of the Navy on the English language. To obtain further information on the expansion of English through Navy sayings, the recommendation is made to contact the Oxford Word and Language Service. This service, provided by Oxford University Press, can offer facts and figures on terms originating from the Services.
7. Changes in Intonation ("Upspeak"): The discussion concludes with an exploration of changes in intonation, specifically the phenomenon known as "upspeak." This rising intonation, prevalent among young women, has been linked to influences from Australian soaps and certain regional British Englishes, such as Belfast and Bristol.
In summary, the article spans various linguistic aspects, from the historical origins of words to spelling reforms, language use in specific contexts, and contemporary linguistic phenomena.
