Notes on the History of English Spelling

Abstract

To introduce the non-specialist in English linguistics to the diversity and complexity of influences which have shaped modern English spelling, three problems in the history of English spelling are presented. The first traces the evolution of the hard and soft pronunciations of word-initial ‘c’ and centers on historical reconstruction of proto-Old English forms, Old English, Old French, and Latin sound changes, and soft pronunciations of word-initial ‘c’ and centers on reconstruction of prehistoric Old English forms, Old English, Old French, and Latin sound changes, and Anglo-Norman scribal practices. The second problem concerns the avoidance of sequences of short down strokes (minims) as a motivating factor in certain role of the English chancery scribes in reforming English spelling along classical lines is examined.