Although I don’t usually talk about medieval times, Monday’s posts are called Medieval Mondays, because I like alliteration. In these posts, I look at the history of the English language.
The ampersand wasn’t always an obscure symbol that not many people can reproduce. It used to be the last letter of the alphabet, and its origins are pretty interesting.
Most people are aware of the Latin word et. You know, from et al, meaning “and the rest of them”, or something? Et is Latin for and.
Having been written and rewritten repeatedly, in Roman cursive, et merged into &, and so the symbol was born. You can see the roots in certain fonts, such as the one used in the post title for this theme, and these:
When the Latin alphabet was introduced in the UK, & joined it. Sometimes it was added onto the end of the alphabet, and eventually it stayed there – it being a prestige form of a simple word, and proving classic roots to our language.
It wasn’t until 1500 years later that the symbol was given a name other than et.
Children always have learned their alphabet by recital, and probably always will. Imagine reciting your alphabet: “W, X, Y, Z, &”.
(That would be said “Double-Yoo, Ex, Wy, Zed, And”)
That doesn’t sound right; it’s almost as if you’ve been cut off halfway through a sentence.
Or, you could say it like this: “W, X, Y, Z, and &” (Double-Yoo, Ex, Wy, Zed, and And). Potentially even worse. “and And” sounds stupid.
So they went with this: “and per se and.”
Per se means “by itself,” so the students were saying, “X, Y, Z, and, by itself, and.”
Say “and per se and” repeatedly. You can imagine how, over time, “and per se and” could become ampersand.
You can see these roots when people write etcetera as &c, meaning etc., with the ampersand maintaining its roots of et.
bambusasolutions said:
Very interesting post today – you taught me something new. Now I can amaze my friends, family and workmates with yet another obscure fact.
brightbluesaturday said:
I dread the day I run out of obscure facts to post about and dissapoint you all!
vanbraman said:
A good way to start out my morning. Learning something new.
brightbluesaturday said:
Thanks!
s1ngal said:
interesting to the core. i tried saying “and per se and” repeatedly and indeed got ampersand.
Daniel said:
Tut tut…it’s in the last sentence. Otherwise, top marks!
brightbluesaturday said:
That was a test. Well done, you passed! :p
bambusasolutions said:
While you’re at it, it’s in the first paragraph too. Do I get a lolly? :)
brightbluesaturday said:
A gold star. A metaphorical one.
knitxpressions said:
learnt something new again =) thank you!!
brightbluesaturday said:
Glad to help!
sliceofshanghai said:
Like everybody else, I had no idea of this obscure fact. Thanks for sharing!
brightbluesaturday said:
Thanks for the comment, and you’re welcome!
Louise Vine said:
I learnt the ‘et’ origin of the symbol not long ago – I spent a long time trying to write an old style E (like a backwards 3) and t joined together until they looked like &! But I didn’t know where the name ampersand came from – even more interesting, thanks!
gelolopez said:
Reblogged this on Musings of a Demented Little Boy and commented:
A very interesting post on the origins of the ampersand. I feel smarter today! :)
lonetode said:
reader appreciation award alert:
‘Anglophonism. We can all afford to know a little bit more about the English language. Everyone! Even you, me.’
http://onlythetruest.wordpress.com/2012/08/22/appreciation-award/
brightbluesaturday said:
Why thank you. If I could give it back I would, but all I can do it big you up in my post!
TheNakedPedant said:
For years (even as an adult…) I thought it was an “and-plus-and” – seems I was nearly right!
brightbluesaturday said:
I can see how you got that, and it’s a lot more logical than the real name!
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