The Irritating Truth About Silent Letters in English

The video explores the history of silent letters in English, debunking the myth that they are remnants of old pronunciations. Instead, these letters were deliberately added by scholars during the Renaissance to reflect Latin roots. Examples include words like 'doubt' and 'receipt', where unnecessary letters were inserted. The video highlights the role of scholars in altering English spelling to showcase their knowledge of Latin and Greek, affecting words like 'debt', 'plumber', and 'isle'.

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