2006-07-18 00:36:10 · 9 answers · asked by karimm2405 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Teaching
Because you don't hear it in the pronunciation of the word. Knife starts with an "N" sound instead of a "K" sound.
2006-07-18 00:42:18 · answer #1 · answered by Purdey EP 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The English language has gone through several changes since the tribes of the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes settled in England in the middle 400's. Now we call their language "Old English," and only trained readers can read it with much comprehension.
After the Norman French conquered England in 1066, this "Old English" language was strongly influenced by French. This "Middle English" language spoken from about 1066 to 1485 had many words that we currently use, but they were pronounced much differently. Vowels had different sounds, and some words like "come" were almost two syllables, with the "e" at the end pronounced as a short "u" or short "a." COM` A
Other words began with a pronounced "K" sound, such as "knife" "Ki neef uh" or "knight" "ka nicht."
So a letter that is silent now was probably pronounced 600 or 700 years ago.
Hope this clears things up.
2006-07-18 18:16:53 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the pronuciation of the word is Nife, making the K a silent letter. Meaning it is not used in the pronunciation of the word. You don't hear it when you pronounce Knife.
Have a good day
2006-07-18 00:44:40 · answer #3 · answered by Cyndee 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because it doesn't make it's usual sound in a word
for instance in the word thumb, the ending sound that you hear is the 'm' sound. B is not heard ... hence, it is a silent letter.
Here is a little more information, if you are interested:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_letter
This article talks, in depth, about several different categories of silent letters.
2006-07-18 00:41:00 · answer #4 · answered by mom1025 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the "k" in knife is silent and is needed to make the word "look right"
for example..."knot" without the "k" would have an entirely different meaning so the "k" makes it look right for the meaning
2006-07-18 05:39:51 · answer #5 · answered by Library Eyes 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Deb is right. The k was pronounced into Middle English times. Knife was pronounced k-niff. Fun to say!
2006-07-18 18:58:00 · answer #6 · answered by readtobe2002 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because you don't hear the letters normal sound
2006-07-18 03:51:55 · answer #7 · answered by favteacher 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because it is just there as a place holder, and generally causes another letter sound to behave differently.
2006-07-18 00:50:43 · answer #8 · answered by ceprn 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dunno, what a good question
2006-07-18 00:40:21 · answer #9 · answered by REAPER_ENTERPRISES 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋