2006-10-07 11:05:01 · 13 answers · asked by clivecaulfield 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Trivia
Before the printing press people spelled English pretty well how they wanted to. With the advent of the press standards started.
Unfortunately for us, the first press came to England from Holland and with them came Dutch printers who had their own way of spelling Dutch).
Hence, "p" in pneumatic, "k" which has been discussed, "h" in ghost, and a few other I can't think of right now.
By the way, what was the first thing printed on the new press.
"You may already be a winner."
2006-10-07 16:04:24 · answer #1 · answered by Lawrie W 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Strictly speaking it's not in Knitting its at the beginning of Knitting, but really its to do with wool and stuff that's why Knotting has a K too!
2006-10-07 18:14:19 · answer #2 · answered by draytondon 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Although influenced by Latin and French beginning with the Norman conquest of England, English is at base a germanic language. A number of the words that look as though they don't follow the rules of regular English spelling and pronunciation are old words that have retained their germanic spelling. 'Knitting' is one of those words. In modern English we do not pronounce the 'k' in words that begin with 'kn,' but we used to when we spoke an older form of English.
2006-10-07 19:32:32 · answer #3 · answered by #7 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I guess the same reason there's a 'k' in knife
don't try to make sense of the English language. Its something that evolved over time, not something someone sat down one day and thought about logically.
2006-10-07 18:08:31 · answer #4 · answered by Trin 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Helps us distinguish between Knitting (with yarn and needles) and nitting (excavating heads for lice)
2006-10-07 18:21:40 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps the question should be, 'why don't we pronounce the k'. If you listen to someone doing it, it definitely sounds like k'nit, k'nit, k'nit. It's a very onomatopoeic word.
2006-10-07 18:48:44 · answer #6 · answered by Juliet H 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To avoid the nitty gritty of life
2006-10-07 18:22:34 · answer #7 · answered by forrestblue4 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The same reason there is a *g* in gnat...the beauty of the English language!
2006-10-07 18:08:12 · answer #8 · answered by Anon 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Like the k in knife, the k USED to be pronounced but has long ago faded.
2006-10-07 18:14:46 · answer #9 · answered by Brand X 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Whoever thought of putting an s in lisp????
2006-10-07 18:07:10 · answer #10 · answered by tucksie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋