Second singular thou

David Sutcliffe david.sutcliffe at UPF.EDU
Sun Sep 24 10:58:21 UTC 2006


What is the evidence on "thou" in natural non-quaker speech in the north
American colonies? In London this fell out of use in the eighteenth century,
probably with the generation born circa 1725. It is still in use,
in one form or another, in parts of the Midlands and North, and (recessively?)
in the South West.

I note a witness is reported as using thou forms in his deposition to the
Salem witch trials:

"...dost thretn me thou old witch..."

David Sutcliffe

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