the long, f-like s

[Dennis R. Preston]

"This particular variant of s [the f-like thing with no cross on it] was
used until the end of the eighteenth century save in final position... ."
Pyles, Origins and development.... p. 59, 2nd ed.

dInIs

>Someone on a non-linguistic list (isn't that a contradiction in terms,
>actually?) wonders if anyone can say approximately when the convention of
>using the long, f-like s was dropped in English. She is trying to date some
>handwriting in the back of a book that was published in 1728. Maybe someone
>here knows. Yes, it occurs to me that some individuals 200 or so years ago
>would have had old-fashoned or affected handwriting, but the poser of the
>query is seeking *some* kind of information, some kind of possibilities.
>Anyone with anything to say could either post to the list or else write me
>and I'll get back to her with the result.
>
>
>Greg Downing/NYU, at greg.downing at nyu.edu or gd2 at is2.nyu.edu


Dennis R. Preston
Department of Linguistics and Languages
Michigan State University
East Lansing MI 48824-1027 USA
preston at pilot.msu.edu
Office: (517)353-0740
Fax: (517)432-2736