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from the æ-þƿ-is-the-name-of-the-spy-in-my-novel dept.
Along quaint New England streets, you'll probably spot a sign or two declaring itself "Ye Olde Tavern" or "Ye Old Soda Shoppe." But before you adopt a British accent and order a pint of ale inside, there's a bit of history you should know.
Phrases like ye olde are actually just some of the late 19th century's first marketing ploys, meant to evoke a sentimental connection to older times. And ye has its own complicated story—based in the history of the alphabet.
English has always been a living language, changing and evolving with use. But before our modern alphabet was established, the language used many more characters we've since removed from our 26-letter lineup.
The six letters described in the article are: ð, þ, ƿ, ȝ, æ, and œ. Orthographic history is fun!
(Score: 3, Informative) by nicdoye on Wednesday January 18 2017, @09:46AM
Thorn was still in use in Middle English, and was more likely to have been removed by standardisation of alphabets in printing presses.
But you carry on with your Christianity-is-the-root-of-all-evil conspiracy theories.
I code because I can
(Score: 3, Touché) by bzipitidoo on Wednesday January 18 2017, @02:38PM
Religion is frequently used and abused for moral justification and inspiration for practically anything no matter how horrible. Slavery, wars such as the Crusades, Climate Change denial, persecution of scientists such as Galileo, patriarchal oppression of women, and income inequality. Doesn't matter how much the founder preached goodness, love, and tolerance, zealots have shown themselves willing and capable of twisting the message to suit their own selfish and evil purposes. For instance, Falwell made the ludicrous claim that 9/11 was God's punishment of America for tolerating homosexuality, abortion, and feminism.
These zealots get away with clothing themselves in moral superiority, whether of the Christian variety or some other, despite naked espousal of principles totally opposite to those of the religion they're using. What it would take to end that, I don't know, but a "better" religion seems most unlikely to help with that problem. Perhaps better education, and respect for learning? Been pushing that for centuries, with rather less than complete success, yet that seems to be the best answer we have. Perhaps evolution of homo sapiens, to further increase our intelligence?
I do agree it is not fair or helpful to hang around their necks albatrosses they didn't earn. Don't blame Jesus for what the likes of Falwell says in His name.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 18 2017, @07:17PM
and Stalin purged religious people. what's your point?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 19 2017, @02:33PM
...about due for another purge. Global this time? :)