Kn Pronunciation During Shakespearean Times: A Linguistic Journey Through Time
During Shakespearean times, the pronunciation of kn in words that start with this combination is a topic often discussed among linguists and scholars. A question frequently asked is whether the initial kn was pronounced. This article delves into the linguistic history and cultural influences that shaped this pronunciation during the Renaissance period.
TLDR: It's Complicated
The 400 years that span from Chaucer's day (14th century) to Shakespeare's time (16th century) brought significant changes to the pronunciation of certain consonant combinations in English. Most linguists believe that the /k/ sound in kn words had largely become silent by the early 1500s. However, the exact pronunciation during Shakespeare's time is not definitively known.
Longer Explanation
In Old English, it was relatively common to find words spelled with kn, gn, hl, and other combinations, with all the letters pronounced. Chaucer, who lived about 150-200 years earlier, still pronounced the /k/ sound in words like gnawen (to chew) and cniht (servant-boy). However, by the early 1500s, the pronunciation of these combinations had largely faded in the London dialect.
The Norman Conquest introduced a significant change to the English language, as it merged with Norman French. In French, /hw/, /hn/, /gn/, /hl/, and /kn/ phonemes are rare. These linguistic constraints over time led to the silent pronunciation of these combinations in English, particularly in the London dialect. By the late 1500s, the initial consonant sounds in words like knave and knight were no longer pronounced.
During the Renaissance, orthographic reformers attempted to standardize spelling, but the silent kn persisted and even influenced the development of new words. Words like knar, knave, and knight were once pronounced with a /k/ sound, but by Shakespeare's time, this sound had become silent in the London dialect.
Other kn words, however, showed varying pronunciations. Many were borrowed from Middle Dutch, Middle German, Russian, or Yiddish, and for some time, the /k/ sound was retained. Examples include knickers, knapweed, and knacker. However, the overwhelming influence of linguistic constraints eventually led to the consistent silent pronunciation of kn in these words.
Some formal names, like King Knut, maintained both the pronunciation and spelling, resulting in today's spelling of King Canute, a compromise between linguistic and conventional norms.
Conclusion
While it is probable that the kn phoneme was silent in Shakespeare's London dialect, the exact pronunciation during that time remains uncertain. The study of kn pronunciation during Shakespearean times offers a fascinating glimpse into the historical evolution of the English language and the complex interplay between linguistic and cultural forces.