[Lexicog] Re: The Irony of Thou

[bolstar1]

Benjamin: The Quakers began their denomination in the 1650's, under the 
leadership of George Fox. This would put the movement 30+ years after 
Shakespeare died (1616). I don't know what social/religious pressures 
were placed on the original pronouns 'ye' and 'thou' and 'thee', but 
     "Thou" had been used as an informal form for many years before 
1650. "You" come from Old English 'ee-ow,' -- from West Germanic roots, 
and according to the Oxford Dictionary (American) was related to the 
Duch 'u.' 
        "During the 14th cent. you began to replace ye¹, 
        thou¹, and thee; by the 17th cent. it had become 
        the ordinary second person pronoun for any number 
        and case."  (Oxford American Dictionary)
     Maybe an OED'er has a better handle on the reasons, or the 
influences on, the words that made the forms change. 

Scott



 
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