Pet Peeves

[Sara S]

From the internet:

The word “ask” comes from the Proto-Germanic word “aiskōan,” which evolved into the Old English word “ascian.” From what we can tell, these words were probably pronounced with an S-K sound.

The oldest printed citations indicate 'ask' was pronounced like 'aks' or 'axe.'

However, the earliest references to these words that we can find in print reveal something different: a K-S sound. For example, the earliest citation for this word in the Oxford English Dictionary is spelled A-C-S-O-D-E. The second is spelled A-X-O-D-E. Both indicate the “ks” pronunciation.

Based on these citations (and many others), it seems that during the time when Old English was spoken—from about 500 to 1100 AD—the “aks” pronunciation ruled the land. The “ask” version still appeared, but not nearly as much. And the use of “aks” continued steadily through the periods when Middle English and Early Modern English were spoken—that is, all the way up through the 1500s.

In fact, we find it in Geoffrey Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales” and in William Tyndale’s translation of the bible into Early Modern English. Both of these landmark documents use the spelling “axe”—A-X-E.

I make the SK sound thats a lot of information and I actually enjoyed reading it

 

[Isadora]

From the internet:

The word “ask” comes from the Proto-Germanic word “aiskōan,” which evolved into the Old English word “ascian.” From what we can tell, these words were probably pronounced with an S-K sound.

The oldest printed citations indicate 'ask' was pronounced like 'aks' or 'axe.'

However, the earliest references to these words that we can find in print reveal something different: a K-S sound. For example, the earliest citation for this word in the Oxford English Dictionary is spelled A-C-S-O-D-E. The second is spelled A-X-O-D-E. Both indicate the “ks” pronunciation.

Based on these citations (and many others), it seems that during the time when Old English was spoken—from about 500 to 1100 AD—the “aks” pronunciation ruled the land. The “ask” version still appeared, but not nearly as much. And the use of “aks” continued steadily through the periods when Middle English and Early Modern English were spoken—that is, all the way up through the 1500s.

In fact, we find it in Geoffrey Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales” and in William Tyndale’s translation of the bible into Early Modern English. Both of these landmark documents use the spelling “axe”—A-X-E.

This was weirdly disappointing to me.

 

[Artichoke Lover]

Trying to remember the American spellings of words. Grey vs. Gray and Harbour vs. Harbor for example.

 

[Sara S]

Trying to remember the American spellings of words. Grey vs. Gray and Harbour vs. Harbor for example.

a In grey is just A for America

 

[Sally PB]

This was weirdly disappointing to me.

I actually learned this in an English course in college. It was absolutely fascinating to me how words have changed meaning and pronunciation over the centuries.

 

[Hayden Goseek]

I actually learned this in an English course in college. It was absolutely fascinating to me how words have changed meaning and pronunciation over the centuries.

I like how many names and occupations have changed over the years. Ex.. 200 years ago an 'undertaker' was a contractor.
I find that almost all of my misspellings are from swapping vowels. Probably some weird dyslexia.

 

[Sara S]

I like how many names and occupations have changed over the years. Ex.. 200 years ago an 'undertaker' was a contractor.
I find that almost all of my misspellings are from swapping vowels. Probably some weird dyslexia.

It’s not exactly weird, I think there’s something its called, but I can’t think of it. A girl I went to school with a while ago had that. Maybe she was just a little wonky.

 

[troyer]

NEVER, EVER store eggs in egg cartons pointy end up. JUST DON'T EVER DO IT!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

From the internet:

The word “ask” comes from the Proto-Germanic word “aiskōan,” which evolved into the Old English word “ascian.” From what we can tell, these words were probably pronounced with an S-K sound.

The oldest printed citations indicate 'ask' was pronounced like 'aks' or 'axe.'

However, the earliest references to these words that we can find in print reveal something different: a K-S sound. For example, the earliest citation for this word in the Oxford English Dictionary is spelled A-C-S-O-D-E. The second is spelled A-X-O-D-E. Both indicate the “ks” pronunciation.

Based on these citations (and many others), it seems that during the time when Old English was spoken—from about 500 to 1100 AD—the “aks” pronunciation ruled the land. The “ask” version still appeared, but not nearly as much. And the use of “aks” continued steadily through the periods when Middle English and Early Modern English were spoken—that is, all the way up through the 1500s.

In fact, we find it in Geoffrey Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales” and in William Tyndale’s translation of the bible into Early Modern English. Both of these landmark documents use the spelling “axe”—A-X-E.

Thank you for this! I love etymology! (The study of the origins of words. Not to be confused with ENTymology, the study of insects. Which I also find fascinating.)

 

[Brooks_]

Not full peeve level, but I was behind one of those trucks that carries cars. The one car that I could see most easily was crooked. That REALLY bothered me.