2006-08-15 14:51:41 · 13 answers · asked by EUGENE M 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
Sean is a gaelic name and the gaelic language borrowed the english alphbet. It has 14? letters, h not being one of them. The interesting thing about the gaelic S is that when it comes anywhere but the end of a word it always makes an SH sound. Sean is the gaelic equivelent of John. My name which is Jeff, is spelled Seafra in Irish and said like this; Shey-Fra.
2006-08-15 14:59:28 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Easy: Sean is the Irish spelling and pronunciation of John - if we retained the "fada", acute accent of the Irish spelling, the difference would seem obvious. Bean and lean are of Anglo Saxon etymologies. Therefore homonymic, but heterophonic.
2006-08-15 23:41:51 · answer #2 · answered by mala k 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Because it's the Irish spelling of an Irish name. Don't try to make sense of English spelling, it's extremely inconsistent for a number of reasons, including borrowings from other languages such as in this case.
2006-08-15 22:37:36 · answer #3 · answered by J9 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Because "Sean" and "Shawn" are names, where "bean" and "lean" are a noun and verb. They are completely different kinds of words.
2006-08-15 21:58:07 · answer #4 · answered by CactusRaven 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
English has a lot of arcane and counterintuitive rules.
Get the world to speak Esperanto, and make your mark on history. Make it your life's work.
See, I have given you a purpose! A reason to live.
Good luck.
2006-08-15 21:58:35 · answer #5 · answered by American citizen and taxpayer 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
People try to think of different ways to spell names.
Bawns. That is an interesting concept.
2006-08-15 21:55:40 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
try this book: "The Tough Coughs as he Ploughs the Dough"
2006-08-15 22:50:57 · answer #7 · answered by shazam 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You go ahead and start that trend. We'll be right behind you.
2006-08-15 21:56:52 · answer #8 · answered by KATYA 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
XD LOL! I literally laughed out loud when I read that! Thank you....it's so true, too!
2006-08-15 22:45:35 · answer #9 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
go to sleep
2006-08-15 22:02:22 · answer #10 · answered by Miss 21 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋