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Our spelling derives largely from Middle English, which is not that difficult to read. It would be much more difficult to understand if you were listening to it however, because those spellings reflect how the words were actually pronounced at that time. While the pronounciations have changed, the spellings have stayed the same.
That is to say, while we pronounce "knight" as "nite", Chaucer would have said "kin-nikhht". While you say "coff" he would say "cowkhh". While you say "ruff" he'd say "rowkhh" and so on.
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Why is laughter and slaughter spelled the same?
I can't really answer except to say that it is one of the many quirks of the English language. Like cough and rough - one sounds like coff and the other like ruff.
Is cough a homophone?
Yes, "cough" is a homophone. It sounds the same as "coff," "caff," and "caugh."
Why is cough spelled that way?
The word "cough" comes from Middle English where it was spelled as "coughen." It has retained the "gh" from its Old English origin which represents a guttural sound. English spelling has evolved over time, creating variations in words like "cough."
What is an opinoin about the Chicago Bears?
they are the most awesome and beastly team that has ever played the game. (coff coff walter peyton and butkiss)
What makes gum wet?
your spit dumb coff
In Zener breakdown is proportional to?
-ve coff of temperature
How long is it from sydney to coff's harbor by coach?
9 hours
What can you give your dog for kennel coff?
a good high powered round in the head will cure it for sure.
Who composed ''the Nutctacker Suite''?
Tchaikovsky ( Pronounced chy-coff-ski) composed "The Nutcracker Suite".
Which is spelled right A coughy B coughfy or C none of the above?
C. "Coughy" is not a word. Coffee is a word, and so is cough, but not 'coughy' or 'coughfy'.
Does black mold cause you to itch?
some times , it makes me n my dad coff and weez tho
What word is spelled ghoti?
Fish. Gh in cough is f sound, the o in women is I sound, and the ti in station is an sh sound. So ghoti is fish
