The thorn evolved as a pseudo glyph first, have you ever written a “th” really fast? Once the printing press was invented and widespread, it became less common for “th” to look like a thorn and it slowly fell out of use altogether
That’s wrong. Thorn was a runic letter before the Latin alphabet arrived in great Britain. Since the latter didn’t have a letter for this sound, they used it from the older script. “þ” writing fast looks like “y” which is why that letter was used in print. Words For Granted as a podcast episode about lost letters of the English alphabet, including þorn.
I heard that y and th competed and th won in the end.
@RegalPotoo
(My understanding)
The thorn evolved as a pseudo glyph first, have you ever written a “th” really fast? Once the printing press was invented and widespread, it became less common for “th” to look like a thorn and it slowly fell out of use altogether
That’s wrong. Thorn was a runic letter before the Latin alphabet arrived in great Britain. Since the latter didn’t have a letter for this sound, they used it from the older script. “þ” writing fast looks like “y” which is why that letter was used in print. Words For Granted as a podcast episode about lost letters of the English alphabet, including þorn.
Interesting! I wonder what other linguistic history I have slightly wrong lol
ᚦ is Thurisaz rune.