The only reason, I imagine, which can be given for the transposition of
letters spoken of by Mr. Williams (No. 12. p. 184.), is that it was done
on "phonetic" principles--for the sake of euphony:--the new way was felt
or fancied to be easier to the organs of speech, or (which is nearly the
same) pleasanter to those of hearing. Such alterations have at all times
been made,--as is well known to those versed in the earlier stages of
the language,--and often most arbitrarily. It is needless to say that
"provincial and vulgar" usage throws much light on the changes in the
forms of words; and perhaps a little attention to the manner in which
words are altered by the peasantry would illustrate the point in
question more than a learned comment.
No form of verbal corruption is more frequent throughout the rural
districts of England than that produced by the transposition of letters,
especially of consonants: such words as _world_, _wasp_, _great_, are,
as every one knows, still ordinarily (though less frequently than a
dozen years ago) pronounced _wordle_, _waps_, _gurt_. So with names of
places: thus Cholsey (Berks.) is called Chosley.
The dropping of a letter is to be accounted for in a like manner.
Probably the word was first _pronounced_ short, and when the ear became
accustomed to the shortened sound, the superfluous (or rather
unpronounced) letter would be dropped in writing. In proper names, to
which your correspondent particularly refers, we observe this going on
extensively in the present day. Thus, in Caermarthen and Caernarvon,
though the _e_ is etymologically of importance, it is now very generally
omitted--and that by "those in authority:" in the Ordnance Maps,
Parliamentary "Blue Books," and Poor-law documents, those towns are
always spelled Carnarvon, Carmarthen. A still more striking instance is
that of a well-known village on the Thames, opposite Runnimede. Awhile
back it was commonly spelled Wyrardisbury; now it appears on the
time-tables of the South-Western Railway (and perhaps elsewhere)
Wraysbury, which very nearly represents the local pronunciation.
It is, perhaps, worth while to remark that letters are sometimes added
as well as dropped by the peasantry. Thus the Cockley, a little
tributary of Wordsworth's _Duddon_, is by the natives of Donnerdale
invariably called Cocklety beck; whether for the sake of euphony, your
readers may decide.
And now, Sir, you will perhaps permit me to put a query. Tom Brown, in
his _Dialogues_, p. 44. ed. 1704., has a well-known line:--
"Why was not he a rascal
Who refused to suffer the Children of Israel to go
into the Wilderness with their wives and families
to eat the Paschal?"
which he says he found on some "very ancient hangings in a country
ale-house." I have never doubted that he was himself the author; but
having heard it positively ascribed to a very different person, I should
be glad to know whether {299} any of your readers have met with it in an
earlier writer; and if so, to whom is it to be ascribed?