Why the second syllable? We should really have got the right end of the stick from the first…
I’m guessing as I don’t know the origin of the word, but perhaps its an onomatopeoia?
I fail to remember anyone ever making “mur, mur, mur” sounds…
dictionary.reference.com/search?q=murmur
It says somewhere on that page:
[Middle English murmure, from Old French,
“mur” means “wall” in French…
It says on the dictionary.com reference page:
[Middle English murmure, from Old French, from Latin murmur, a humming, roaring, of imitative origin.]
Gold, Frankenstein and murmur…
Hmmm…one of those funny old words then. Although the French origin being murmure indicates that it was two different concepts combined.
However, I like the idea that people just tacked on extra letters for no good reason.
Like the word ‘through’. Should be pronounced th-ruff. Why all the silent letters?
=D> …thanks for the giggle!
Because the English are a phenomenally stupid people…
No, I’m serious. I include myself in that generalisation. Spanish is a far superior language in so many ways, I should take it up again.
I always thawt that ‘through’ should be pronounded ‘throog-h’.
c.1381, “expression of discontent by grumbling,” from O.Fr. murmure (12c.), noun of action from murmurer, from L. murmurare, from murmur (n.) “a hum, muttering, rushing,” probably from a PIE reduplicative base *mor-mor, of imitative origin (cf. Skt. murmurah “crackling fire,” Gk. mormyrein “to roar, boil,” Lith. murmlenti “to murmur”). Meaning “softly spoken words” is from 1674. The verb is first attested c.1386.
However, I was recently reading about Sanskrit and it sounded a lot like English in that there are so many words to describe subtly different states. It’s a strange language but there’s a lot going on in it.
It’s official, then. The word “murmur” is a transcendent word, because it goes beyond national borders. I spell it exactly the same as in English, and I speak a latin language, which I think is proof enough. Long live transcendent words ! Uniting through culture, celebrating diversity…
Keeping sophists like Chomsky in a job…
Ha, ha… That was great. Thanks for starting my year with a nice laugh…
You are welcome…