Origin & Evolution of Languages

[Nik Taylor]

Stefan Georg wrote:

> With due respect, you are not really saying that English lost the number
> distinction here because of English society becoming (more) *egalitarian*,
> or are you ?

Something like that.  Remember that in Middle English, the "ye" form,
originally a plural, became a polite pronoun.  Out of politeness, the
older "thou" forms were lost.  There was some degree of egalitarianism,
or at least a more democratic society.

--
Happy that Nation, - fortunate that age, whose history is not diverting
-- Benjamin Franklin
http://members.tripod.com/~Nik_Taylor/X-Files/
http://members.tripod.com/~Nik_Taylor/Books.html
ICQ #: 18656696
AIM screen-name: NikTailor