Todays Thought

Still round the corner there may wait, / a new road or a secret gate. -

J.R.R. Tolkien, novelist and philologist (3 Jan 1892-1973)

Todays Thought

Never let your sense of morals get in the way of doing what's right. 

-Isaac Asimov

Why Does ‘Will Not’ Become ‘Won’t’?

 

Why Does ‘Will Not’ Become ‘Won’t’?

In Old English there were two forms of the verb willan (“to wish” or “to will”)—wil- in the present and wold- in the past. Over the next few centuries there was a good deal of bouncing back and forth between those vowels (and others) in all forms of the word. At different times and places , will came out as wulle, wole, wool, welle, wel, wile, wyll, and even ull and ool.

There was less variation in the contracted form. From at least the 16th century, the preferred form was wonnot, from woll not, with occasional departures later to winnot, wunnot, or the expected willn’t. In the ever-changing landscape that is English, will won the battle of the woles/wulles/ools, but for the negative contraction, wonnot simply won out, and contracted further to the won’t we use today.

When you think about the effort it takes to actually pronounce the word willn’t, this isn’t so surprising at all.

Save The Date

 Northwest Extension Phase II Opening

On January 27, 2024, service begins on the Northwest Extension Phase II that helps connect the West Valley to destinations in Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa. The 1.6-mile extension from 19th Ave/Dunlap to the Metrocenter area adds three new stations, including the system’s first elevated station across I-17. Riders will be able to access a new transit center with bus connections and a new park-and-ride garage. Public art adorns the stations, transit center and park-and-ride incorporating the unique character of the communities they serve. The expansion of service to Metrocenter supports the community reenergizing that is planned over the next few years.

SNL Digital Short: People Getting Punched Right Before Eating - Saturday...

National Brotherhood Week

 National Brotherhood Week

13 Things You Might Not Have Known About John Steinbeck’s ‘Of Mice and Men’

 13 Things You Might Not Have Known About John Steinbeck’s ‘Of Mice and Men’

John Steinbeck’s dog Toby ate the first draft of the manuscript, leading the author to write a friend, “I’m not sure Toby didn’t know what he was doing.”