if they're silent, then why the hell are they there?
2007-09-07 18:18:05 · 7 answers · asked by >_> 4 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
To make you fail spelling tests in school? They're all silent and sneaky ya know.
In most languages aside from English and American, you pronounce every single letter. I think it's because so many Eng and Amer words are derived from other languages.
2007-09-07 18:23:53 · answer #1 · answered by wojohowsky 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Think of how few words there would be for the letter P in the dictionary without ptarmigan, psychology, or pseudo! Why, P even rips off the letter F with words such as phew, pharmacy, and physical!
Seriously, I don't know. The english language is the bastard of every imaginable ancient language out there. A lot of it doesn't make sense and I've heard it's the hardest to learn.
2007-09-07 18:24:08 · answer #2 · answered by bigclaire 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They differentiate between words, like cast (for broken arms) and caste (for social classes). Just imagine trying to learn the language as a foreign person!
2007-09-07 18:26:45 · answer #3 · answered by greengirlmissy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because of the Old English spelling. Ancient is what we're talking here. And just to confuse young children and immigrants. :-)
2007-09-07 18:27:14 · answer #4 · answered by Frosty 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry, can't tell you they're silent. :-)
2007-09-07 18:38:12 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try this link...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_letter
2007-09-07 18:21:55 · answer #6 · answered by One Love 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i know not - perhaps to give a clue as to how to stress other represented vowels?
2007-09-07 18:38:00 · answer #7 · answered by just visiting 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋