Why are there two g's in "suggest"?
Feb. 14th, 2012 09:22 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
conulyLogically speaking, shouldn't that spelling result in the pronunciation "sug jest" instead of "suh jest"? What the heck is that extra g doing there? Twiddling its thumbs? Picking its nose? Doing the hula? Plotting world domination via illogical orthography?
Interestingly, etymonline.com says that it's from the past participle of "suggerere", which looks like somebody hiccuped while typing. Or speaking, the Romans not having keyboards.
Edit: I now have three comments going "But I do say it that way". For two of you, please confirm: That's sug jest, with the g as in girl?
I've never, ever, ever heard it that way, but assuming that this pronunciation didn't spring up because of the spelling (which is why Brits now say the H in "herb") it all makes sense now!
Merriam-Webster includes that pronunciation, but the OED doesn't.
Interestingly, etymonline.com says that it's from the past participle of "suggerere", which looks like somebody hiccuped while typing. Or speaking, the Romans not having keyboards.
Edit: I now have three comments going "But I do say it that way". For two of you, please confirm: That's sug jest, with the g as in girl?
I've never, ever, ever heard it that way, but assuming that this pronunciation didn't spring up because of the spelling (which is why Brits now say the H in "herb") it all makes sense now!
Merriam-Webster includes that pronunciation, but the OED doesn't.
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Date: 2012-02-17 10:41 am (UTC)If there were only one g, wouldn't English spelling rules have it pronounced as "soo jest"? Like supine vs. support, sumac vs summation, etc. The doubled consonant lets you have a short vowel.
When I took Latin in high school, they told me the Romans only had a hard "g", not the "j" one. So it wasn't an issue for them, assuming I was taught correctly.
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Date: 2012-02-17 12:08 pm (UTC)Or "syoo jest", for those of us who don't drop their yods after coronals. Yes, I think so.
It would rhyme with "hugest", I'd say.
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Date: 2012-02-17 12:14 pm (UTC)Well, this is one of the more consistent rules about English spelling, I guess. But it's still one that goes out the window on many occasions, frequently with unstressed syllables - look at traveled. One l, but a "short" e.
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Date: 2012-02-17 04:08 pm (UTC)