Odd, isn't it. Is there a reason? If so, why does 'how' start with an 'h' (but still contains a 'w')?
Mr. GorgeousFluffpot and I are racking our brains but cannot think of the answer - does anyone out there is Planet Yahoo Answers know this, please?
2006-12-21 04:16:29 · 13 answers · asked by gorgeousfluffpot 5 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
"How" was being impertinent that day, so it was punished by stripping away it's 'wh'
2006-12-21 04:19:36 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
How also has an aitch. My theory is that many words are formed by facial expressions and the need to convey body language. Think about how your face changes when you ask a question. Look in a mirror and try it. You automatically lower your eyebrows as your mouth forms the w shape thus signifying to the other person that you are asking a question that elicits an open answer. How is more of asking for an explanation type of word.
2006-12-21 04:21:58 · answer #2 · answered by quatt47 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
"The interregotive pronouns (those beginning with wh in addition to the word how), derive from Proto-Indo-European roots. The Proto-Indo-European root directly originated the Latin and Romance form qu- in words such as Latin qualis ("which") and quando ("when"). In English, the gradual change of voiceless stops into voiceless fricatives (phase 1 of Grimm's law) during the development of Germanic languages is responsible for "wh-" of interrogatives."
In modern day English, most questions begin with, "um..." Hahaha!
2006-12-21 04:24:30 · answer #3 · answered by Plasmapuppy 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I looked up the definitions in my dictionary and their origins are all from 'olde english', and they also have their own pattern, but not the same as our new english.
'Who' comes from OE (olde english): 'hwa'
'When' comes from OE: 'hwanne' or 'hwenne'
'What' comes from OE: 'hwaet'
'Where' comes from OE: 'hwaer'
etc...
All these derive from olde english, and the olde english words come from old 'germanic' (gmc)
I guess your next question could be "Why do common questioning words in Germanic begin with 'hwa-'?"
Can't find a dictionary for the answer to that one...
Hope this helps :-)
2006-12-21 04:32:40 · answer #4 · answered by Jim Jones 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Whoever came up them must really love the letter W. simple i love pinkl and everything of mine is pink including ma room ma fovourite shoes and the letters that make up pink!
2006-12-24 22:24:45 · answer #5 · answered by Me!! 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I honestly don't know.
Kipling said..
I keep six honest serving-men
(They taught me all I knew);
Their names are What and Why and When
And How and Where and Who.
2006-12-21 04:36:14 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
its the root "wh" probably dates back to the greeks
2006-12-21 04:18:36 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
because the people were bored and didn't want to do alot of work so they decided to pick to letters and go with it. well that is my opinion!
2006-12-21 21:40:39 · answer #8 · answered by Ritne H 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Now thats a very clever question and l am clearly not up to it!
;-)
2006-12-21 04:19:36 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
not all of them do. eg does or is.
I guess they all originated in the same word and the w is all that is left
2006-12-21 04:21:11 · answer #10 · answered by Lucy 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋