Silent k and g: Difference between revisions
reformating and expanding to include gn, maybe it should be renamed.. |
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== Etymology == |
== Etymology == |
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In [[Old English]], ⟨k⟩ and ⟨g⟩ were not silent in these words. Cognates in other [[Germanic languages]] show that the ⟨k⟩ was likely a [[voiceless velar plosive]] in [[Proto-Germanic]] (compare [[German language|German]] ''Knecht'' to ''knight'', ''Knoten'' to ''knot'', etc.). |
In [[Old English]], ⟨k⟩ and ⟨g⟩ were not silent in these words. Cognates in other [[Germanic languages]] show that the ⟨k⟩ was likely a [[voiceless velar plosive]] in [[Proto-Germanic]] (compare [[German language|German]] ''[[wiktionary:Knecht|Knecht]]'' to ''[[Wiktionary:knight|knight]]'', ''[[Wiktionary:Knoten|Knoten]]'' to ''[[Wiktionary:knot|knot]]'', etc. where the initial ⟨k⟩ is not silent); likewise, ⟨g⟩ was likely a [[voiced velar plosive]] (compare German [[Wiktionary:Gnom|Gnom]] to [[Wiktionary:gnome|gnome]], [[Wiktionary:Gneis|Gneis]] to [[Wiktionary:gneiss|gneiss]], etc. where the initial ⟨g⟩ is not silent). |
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== Words == |
== Words == |
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Revision as of 07:34, 1 June 2012
A silent ⟨k⟩ occurs when the letter ⟨k⟩ appears in a word but does not actually reflect the pronunciation of a voiceless velar plosive (/k/), or any sound for that matter. A silent ⟨k⟩ is quite common in the English language, most often preceding an ⟨n⟩ at the beginning of a word. There are rare exceptions to this rule; one example is Knoebels Grove located in Pennsylvania.
While not as common, the letter ⟨g⟩ will also become silent when placed in front of an ⟨n⟩ at the beginning of a word, rather than being realized as a voiced velar plosive (/g/). An exception is the acronym GNU.
Etymology
In Old English, ⟨k⟩ and ⟨g⟩ were not silent in these words. Cognates in other Germanic languages show that the ⟨k⟩ was likely a voiceless velar plosive in Proto-Germanic (compare German Knecht to knight, Knoten to knot, etc. where the initial ⟨k⟩ is not silent); likewise, ⟨g⟩ was likely a voiced velar plosive (compare German Gnom to gnome, Gneis to gneiss, etc. where the initial ⟨g⟩ is not silent).
Words
Following is a list of words that include a silent ⟨k). For verbs, only the infinitive form of the verb is given, not any conjugations:
Nouns |
Verbs |
Others |
⟨gn⟩
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