Wit, unker, Git: The lost medieval pronouns of English intimacy
3 hours ago
- #language evolution
- #linguistics
- #history
- Medieval English had dual pronouns like 'wit' (we two), 'git' (you two), and 'uncer' (our two), which disappeared around the 13th century.
- Dual pronouns were used for intimacy and specificity, appearing in Old English poetry such as 'Wulf and Eadwacer' and 'Beowulf'.
- English simplified over time, losing dual forms as plural 'we' could serve for two, and pronouns evolved due to social, political, and linguistic influences like Viking and Norman invasions.
- Pronouns like 'she' emerged from Old English blends, while 'they' came from Old Norse, replacing native forms for clarity and utility.
- The Norman conquest introduced using 'you' for both singular and plural, leading to the loss of 'thou'/'thee', though dialects like Irish English retain plural 'ye' or 'youse'.
- Despite changes, personal pronouns have remained relatively stable compared to nouns and verbs, retaining grammatical features from Old English, though a revival of dual pronouns seems unlikely.