Thorn (letter)

Þ or þ (pronounced [ θɔrn ], Thorn ) is a letter in the alphabets of Old English and Old Norse language as well as in today's Icelandic alphabet. Also in the Lateinumschrift the Gothic language it is usually used instead of "th", as he was also represented by a single letter in the Gothic alphabet. The letter originated from the rune Thurisaz same name.

The exact phonetic value varies depending on the font system. " Þ " is in Icelandic only for a voiceless dental fricative, as the modern English "th" in bath [ ... θ ]. In Old English, however, it was next to " Ɖ " both [ θ ] as well as the voiced dental fricative [ ð ].

In English the Thorn was often substituted in the 14th century by the digraph "th"; same time, the shape of the letter approached more and more to that of the letter " Y". As a result "Y" was used as a substitute (for example, in polygraphy ) - imported from continental Europe pleadings contained no Thorn. In early printed materials therefore find shortcuts with Ypsilon instead of Thorn, as ye for the, yt for that. This is reflected today in ancient or pseudo-historical names reflected, for example, " ye olde " (pronounced " the old " ) for many restaurants ( see example at right).

Examples

The Norse god Thor is written in Icelandic Þór. Also derived from this theonym toponyms and personal names are theophoric such as Thovald (or the German name Thorwald ) or out of shape Thorstein the shortened German form Thorsten. In the elections for the Icelandic parliament Althingi Þ is the party letter of the Icelandic Pirate Party Píratar.

Representation on computer systems

Compose, ⇧ Shift TH

Compose, T, H