on 23/2/02 11:28 pm, grasshopper at [log in to unmask]
wrote:
> Dear Sally,
> I really doubt anyone used these contractions in normal speech,-I think
> they were part of a special literary language.
> I may be cynical, but I think these contractions proved so lasting
> because they were jolly useful if you needed a monosyllable for the metre.
> Kind regards,
> grasshopper
>
Well I can remeber my old relatives saying oft and wherere (where e'er) and
other stuff like that but it would be nice to find out factually about this.
Perhaps a hunt round the OED for examples from dialogue in novels would give
an idea. Sally
> From: Sally Evans <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: Bathing by Starlight-Sue
> T
> In-Reply-To: <003701c1b4e9$3a659500$d84986d9@tinypc>
>
> on 13/2/02 11:50 pm, grasshopper at [log in to unmask]
> wrote:
>
>> and used archaic
>> words and special abbreviations like 'oft' and 'e'er' and a rather
> a rather belated reply, Grassy: I think people actually used to say oft etc
> in normal speech at those times.... Sally ee
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