answersLogoWhite

0

Normally regarding the singular/ plural formation of words, the word's spelling is in direct relation to it origination. In 75% of English vocabulary (NOT language though), it is of Latin origin and in most cases are then plural words spelled with only an "S" or "Es" or whatever similar.

However, in the case of Elk, as with many others, it comes directly from the P.Gmc. *elkh through Middle High German to Old English to Modern. It never touched the Latinized version of this particular word. As such, it follows very different rules regarding pluralization (as well as formation in other tenses though in English we normally do not see them). The word Elk follows the Germanic trail to Modern English. "S" is not normally associated with plural but rather genitive in early to middle to some modern Germanic.

Simply, with this particular word, because of the road it took to get to Modern English (northern (Germanic) rather than southern (Latin)) it does not follow "normal" standards of English pluralization.

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago

What else can I help you with?