Summary of "Bonus Episode 5: Odds and Ends" – The History of English Podcast

Podcast Information:

• Title: The History of English Podcast
• Host: Kevin Stroud
• Description: The Spoken History of a Global Language
• Episode: Bonus Episode 5: Odds and Ends
• Release Date: April 25, 2014

Introduction: Unpacking "Odds and Ends"

In this bonus episode titled "Odds and Ends," host Kevin Stroud delves into miscellaneous topics that didn't fit into previous episodes. The title itself is a nod to the linguistic fusion inherent in the English language, combining "end" from Old English and "odd" from Old Norse—highlighting the upcoming exploration of Viking influences on English.

Kevin Stroud [00:10]: "Odds and Ends is also appropriate because it foreshadows the next few episodes of the podcast. 'End' is an Old English word used by the Anglo Saxons, but 'odd' is an Old Norse word brought to Britain by the Vikings."

Stroud also teases future content, including an in-depth look at the ancestors of the Vikings and an analysis of the epic poem Beowulf. He emphasizes the historical significance of Beowulf, noting its blend of fictional narrative with verifiable historical references, making it a crucial resource for understanding pre-Viking Scandinavia.

Etymology of Finger Names: From Sheeta to Pinky

One of the primary topics Stroud explores is the original names for the fingers in Old English and their evolution into modern terminology.

The First Finger: Sheeta or Index Finger

The first finger was traditionally known as the sheeta finger, translating to "shooting finger." Stroud speculates that this name may relate to archery, akin to the modern term "trigger finger."

Kevin Stroud [00:10]: "The first finger was called the sheeta finger, which was literally the shooting finger. But I haven't been able to find a definitive reason why it was called the shooting finger."

With the Norman influence and the influx of Latin, the English language adopted the term index finger, derived from the Latin word indicare, meaning "to point out."

The Middle Finger: Long, Rood, and Fool's Finger

The middle finger, known historically as the long finger or long man, carried significant cultural weight. Stroud explains that the Greeks and Romans used this finger for a phallic gesture, a tradition that the Anglo-Saxons inherited, leading to names like rood finger and fool's finger.

Kevin Stroud [00:10]: "The middle finger was sometimes called the rood finger, and another later word for it was the fool's finger."

The Third and Fourth Fingers: Latch and Ear Fingers

The third finger retained names like latch finger or ring finger, consistent with contemporary usage. The fourth finger was known as the ear finger, reflecting its use in scratching ears. Interestingly, the term pinky emerged much later, in the 19th century, borrowed from Dutch.

The Thumb: Thuma

The thumb's name, thuma, has been preserved since Old English, showcasing continuity in English vocabulary.

Words of Knowledge and Wisdom: From "Can" to "Vision"

Stroud transitions to an exploration of words related to knowledge and wisdom, highlighting their intricate etymological paths from Old English and Latin roots.

Kennings and Compound Words

He introduces kennings, poetic compound words used extensively in Old English poetry for creative expression and alliteration. The term itself originates from the Old Norse kenne, meaning "to know or recognize."

Kevin Stroud [00:10]: "These poetic compounds are called kennings, like bone house for body and whale road for sea."

The Root of "Can": Knowledge and Its Cognates

The Old English canaan (to know) gave rise to modern words such as can, could, cunning, keen, and uncouth.

Kevin Stroud [00:10]: "Can, uncouth, cunning, and keen are all cognate, and they all relate to some aspect of knowledge or knowing."

These words stem from the same Indo-European root as know, originally pronounced kanawhen in Old English.

Greek and Latin Influences: Expanding the Vocabulary

The Indo-European root underwent a sound shift through Grimm's Law, transforming from the unvoiced k to a voiced g in Greek and Latin. This shift gave rise to a plethora of English words:

• Gnosis (knowledge) → gnostic, agnostic
• Diagnose (knowledge of cause) → diagnosis
• Gnome (originally "knowing remark") → modern usage as mythical creature
• Ignorant (lack of knowledge) → ignore

In Latin, the root evolved into words like noble, notion, notice, notify, cognition, cognizant, recognition, and recognize.

Kevin Stroud [00:10]: "Latin and Greek gave us lots of other related words, gnostic, agnostic, prognosis, diagnosis, gnome, ignore, ignorant, notion, notice, notify, noble, notorious, cognition, cognizant, recognition, recognize."

The Old English "Wisan": Wisdom and Wit

Parallel to canaan, the Old English wisan (to acquire knowledge) spawned words like wise, wisdom, wit, and witness. These terms also trace back to the Indo-European root weed, meaning "to see."

Kevin Stroud [00:10]: "Wis plus dumb became wisdom, the state or condition of being wise."

The connection between seeing and knowledge is evident in words like vision, video, visage, visor, and the phrase vis a vis.

The Word "Idea": From Seeing to Thinking

Finally, Stroud touches upon the word idea, which evolved from the Greek edisha, derived by adding a suffix to weed (to see). This transformation encapsulates the transition from visual perception to abstract thought.

Kevin Stroud [00:10]: "If you see something in your mind, you have an idea."

Conclusion: Bridging Old and New

In wrapping up, Stroud reflects on how these linguistic evolutions showcase the expansion and enrichment of the English vocabulary over time. From the native Germanic roots to the extensive borrowings from Latin and Greek, English has become a highly expressive language.

Kevin Stroud [00:10]: "All of those words made English much more expressive. So the Anglo Saxons used that word kanawhen, meaning to know. But they also had another word which meant knowledge, and that word was wisan."

Stroud concludes by previewing upcoming episodes that will delve deeper into the Viking ancestry and the literary significance of Beowulf, promising listeners more insights into the intricate tapestry of the English language.

Kevin Stroud [00:10]: "Next time, we'll continue to look at the history of English, and we'll turn our attention to Beowulf and the other ancestors of the Vikings."

Final Note: This bonus episode serves as a fascinating exploration of the lesser-discussed aspects of English etymology, providing listeners with a richer understanding of how everyday words are deeply rooted in historical linguistic developments.