Most Americans do n’t say the first " five hundred " in Wednesday . But there it is , sit around pretty . So what gives ?
Well , that ’s a question for the ages . The Middle Ages , to be exact .
The medieval period , also send for the Middle Ages , is a period in European story that stretches from the fifth to the 15th century C.E. It ’s also a time that had great influence over the accent that would eventually organize our advanced English spoken language .
American English is take root in ancient European languages . As far back as the 5th century , several related to Germanic dialects were introduced to Anglo - Saxon realms in what is now Scotland . As the great unwashed interact , languages merge and a accent known as Old English emerge . This " borrowed " language , which take shape from many roots , continued to transubstantiate over the centuries . It later select on the influence of Romance languages , which reverberate from Latin , as well as a version of the Gallic speech spoken by Viking despoiler who conquered expanse of England . By the eleventh century , this novel smorgasbord of English became known as Middle English .
Even now , language continues to change and adjust because of the influences of a diverseness of cultures and development . The Merriam - Webster Collegiate dictionary , for representative , late upped its content count by more than 1,000 Book , adding specimens like binge - watch , photobomb and truther .
The word " Wednesday " has conform over time , too . Its origin lie in Old English ’s Germanic languages , where it emanated from the Holy Scripture " Wōdnesdæg . " Throughout Old English and Middle English , it persist an court to the Anglo - Saxon god Wōden and the Germanic god Wodan . ( You may be more familiar with the Norse equivalent Odin , recently conspicuously featured in the movie adaptations of Marvel ’s " Thor " comics . )
Wodan was a powerful god , one who make the human race . He also represented poetry and the arts , but prompt battle and wars . He can be compared in some prospect with the ancient R.C. divinity Mercury , who was a messenger to the gods . Wodan and Mercury , although quite different , were both linked to the day of the calendar week we know as Wednesday .
As Wōdnesdæg act from Old English to Middle English , its spelling changed . It became " Wednesdei " and the " d " remain , even as the Holy Writ morphed into " Wednesday . "
Wednesday is just one example of words — like February and ptarmigan — where letter appear in a word ’s spelling but not in its pronunciation . The rummy type of America ’s silent " vitamin D " does n’t gallop to parts of England , Scotland and India , where many people enunciate the letter . ( Though some do n’t . Language is tricky ! )
While there ’s no moment that can nail the fading away of Wednesday ’s " d " in spoken American English , and no reason why — though an oceanic water parting seems to have spurred language ’s evolution — the wearing away of a pronounced letter over clock time is n’t all that uncommon . Phonologically speaking , when that happens to a letter on the Department of the Interior of a Christian Bible , it ’s shout out deliquium . You may be familiar with faint as a poetic machine — going " o’er " a river instead of " over . " And you may not even notice it in some common speech that would vocalise odd with every varsity letter enunciated . Chocolate has a cardinal " o " that ’s not fully pronounced , and Christmas vocalize more like a celebration of someone call Chris , though it celebrate a flesh have sex as the Christ .
Want to learn more about how language changes ? tally out this What the Stuff ? ! television :
