Date:  Fri, 3 Dec 1993 15:00:37 EST

From:  Bruce Southard <ENSOUTHA[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]ECUVM1.BITNET>

Subject: Re: Eth and thorn - why did they vanish?



Thomas Pyles' _The Origins and Development of the English Language_ has

a section on "The Later Fate of Thorn, Eth, and Wynn" (pp. 30-31). Pyles

wrote that the thorn"continued in use until the very end of the Middle

Ages." There follows a discussion of _y_ being used as a representation

of thorn in "such pseudoantique absurdities as 'Ye Olde Choppe Suey

Shoppe." As best I can tell, this section was removed from the

Pyles/Algeo 3rd edition of _Origins_.



Regards, Ye Olde Scribe



Bruce Southard, English Department

East Carolina University

Greenville, NC 27858   (919)757-6041