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Archiver > DENMARK > 2006-07 > 1152103784


From: "Jørgen F. Dorch" <>
Subject: Re: [DK] Spand ==== Span
Date: Wed, 05 Jul 2006 14:53:59 +0200
References: <000e01c6a00c$ac1c10d0$2308e23c@acer22085ff5f5> <7.0.1.0.0.20060705051615.01a78820@earthlink.net>
In-Reply-To: <7.0.1.0.0.20060705051615.01a78820@earthlink.net>


I en meddelelse den 05-07-06 14:23, skrev Rockne Johnson :
> Thank you Jørgen and Cai.
>
> But what I was wondering was why spand has a 'd' in Danish but not in
> English or Dutch. Did the Dutch drop the d before the English got it or
> did the Danes add it? Do Danes just like to see a d at the end of words
> like mand and spand, although it is silent? Do the English do funny
> things like that, too?

It has something to do with the pronunciation.

*spænde* is a two syllable word: spæn'de. The 'nd' tells us that the 'æ'
should be a short sound.

If you say 'spæne' (with a long 'æ') it would mean 'run fast'.

As *spand* is developed from 'spænde' it has inherited the 'nd' which
tells us that the 'a' is a short sound.

The word 'span' would mean nothing in Danish.

--
Med venlig hilsen - Inussiarnersumik
*Jørgen F. Dorch* - e-mail: /dorch(via)get2net.dk/

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