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Archiver > QUEBEC-RESEARCH > 2009-09 > 1252525456


From: Syl <>
Subject: Re: [Q-R] Old French Writing & the letter "f"
Date: Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:44:16 -0400
References: <COL106-W25A440F3C659C42E356133B0E90@phx.gbl><634851c1.82f8.42a7.a990.310255992c0e@aol.com>
In-Reply-To: <634851c1.82f8.42a7.a990.310255992c0e@aol.com>


Hello Father!

I really enjoy reading you... a real pleasure :-)

So if I may, that long "s" has the same sound as the German "ß" in
Straße ("strasse", or street in English)?
owentagart a écrit :
> Doreen, and cousins all,
>
> What seems like a letter f is actually a long s, so called to distinguish it from the short or round s, which is now the standard form. The long form s is quite similar to the lower case f, but usually doesn't have a cross bar. It was used by itself in the middle of a word, and the short form at the end of a word. If there was a double s in the middle of a word, the first was long form, and the second short form, as in Narcisse, or saucisse (in French), Narcissus or hissing (in English). In print, the long form s stands above the script line, but in handwriting, it looks rather like an elongated figure 8, with one unclosed loop above, and the other unclosed loop below the line. The use of the long form s died out in the latter part of the 19th century, except in German "fraktur" script, where it continued to be used until after World War II.
>
> Fr John L
>
> In a message dated 09/09/09 14:12:10 Eastern Daylight Time, writes:
>
> Twice in the past few days I have seen the name Narcisse written as Narcifse.
>
>
>
> Could someone explain the significance of this letter in a name please.
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Doreen
>
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