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ArchivesRe: Elizabeth / Penny / Penelope
in reply to a message by Peter
What are these number of sources? The most likely pathway is through ethnic variations like Elisapeta (Samoan, nn usually Peta or Peka) or Elspeth (Scots). It would also involved some rather complex rhyming manouveres which isn't terribly likely - most people find Beth-Bett-Betty-Tetty a bit of a stretch.
Is morphology being used to describe anything but a branch of biology these days? How strange. But I can see what you're meaning so oddly effective. The path of change that gets Penny from Penelope and Peninah is the English habit of shortening names from the first syllable. In Latin-based languages it's often a habit of shortening from the final syllable. So Thomas becomes 'Tom' but Tomas is often 'Mas'. My cousin Penelope is 'Penny' in America but the French cousins say Lope a bit like Lupe. And one uncle calls her Cantalope but that's another story.....
Devon
Is morphology being used to describe anything but a branch of biology these days? How strange. But I can see what you're meaning so oddly effective. The path of change that gets Penny from Penelope and Peninah is the English habit of shortening names from the first syllable. In Latin-based languages it's often a habit of shortening from the final syllable. So Thomas becomes 'Tom' but Tomas is often 'Mas'. My cousin Penelope is 'Penny' in America but the French cousins say Lope a bit like Lupe. And one uncle calls her Cantalope but that's another story.....
Devon
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