Silent Letters In The English Language - What's The Point?

[Callan]

Listen to recordings of Chaucer's Knight's Tale with the original pronunciation.

Knight is pronounced Kinniggit (a la Monty Python).

But still with just the one syllable, it should be noted. One should - ahem - swallow the end of the word somewhat, and lay the stress on the "Kn-".
Otherwise one will fuck the bejaysus out of the iambic pentameter.

[stripes4]

Listen to recordings of Chaucer's Knight's Tale with the original pronunciation.

Knight is pronounced Kinniggit (a la Monty Python).

But still with just the one syllable, it should be noted. One should - ahem - swallow the end of the word somewhat, and lay the stress on the "Kn-".
Otherwise one will fuck the bejaysus out of the iambic pentameter.

That iambic pentameter fucking loves it, the dirty bastard.

[JOZeldenrust]

As a graduate of English, specialising in Lexicography, I would like to support Devogay in his explanation. Thankyou

Just in case you're responding to me, I'm not disputing Devogay's explanation. I just meant to explain how the silent consonants survived in the English spelling, even when they' been lost in the pronounciation. Other languages often have systems to match the spelling to the pronounciation once every couple of years. English doesn't, so you're stuck with spelling that reflects a much earlier pronounciation.

[Lozzer]

As a graduate of English, specialising in Lexicography, I would like to support Devogay in his explanation. Thankyou

I said smart and right thing

[Berthold]

I find it funny that the p in words such as pneumonia and psychology is omitted. Only in English, therefore I suppose that this is not a trait of Greek!

[hadespussercats]

I'm actually sad that, in the US at least, silent letters are under attack. I'd rather go to one of the boroughs, tonight, than one of the boros, tonite.

I like the etymological archaeology of silent letters.

[Tigger]

Featherstonehaugh.
//
Fucking hell.

[Eriku]

I find it funny that the p in words such as pneumonia and psychology is omitted. Only in English, therefore I suppose that this is not a trait of Greek!

Isn't pronounced in the Scando languages either, as far as I know... come to think of it, same would go for German, no?

[Eriku]

I find it funny that the p in words such as pneumonia and psychology is omitted. Only in English, therefore I suppose that this is not a trait of Greek!

Isn't pronounced in the Scando languages either, as far as I know... come to think of it, same would go for German, no?

[Berthold]

I find it funny that the p in words such as pneumonia and psychology is omitted. Only in English, therefore I suppose that this is not a trait of Greek!

Isn't pronounced in the Scando languages either, as far as I know... come to think of it, same would go for German, no?

Oh no, that's why I find it funny!

In Austria, we speak German, although some northern Germans have doubts about this.

[Horwood Beer-Master]

I'm actually sad that, in the US at least, silent letters are under attack. I'd rather go to one of the boroughs, tonight, than one of the boros, tonite.

I like the etymological archaeology of silent letters.

But surely that's not a 'silent letter' issue? I mean "boroughs" is not even pronounced "boros". Not on this side of the Atlantic anyway.

[DRSB]

My English is not up to such subtle games. Wait, is the "b" in "subtle" silent?