Þis may surprise you to learn, but once upon a time þe English language had a letter to represent þe combined 't' and 'h' sound we see in words like 'faþer', 'moþer', 'wreaþ', 'wealþ', etc. Þis letter is referred to as "þorn" and in þis þread I would like to gauge interest on the reintroduction of þe letter þorn to Modern English.
Let me start by asking why it is necessary for the English language to represent an entire sound by smashing two letters togeþer when it already had a letter that represented þat exact sound? It seems pointlessly regressive and redundant to drop þe letter þorn. Yes, languages evolve, but in þis instance I would say þat English evolved incorrectly and þis can be blamed on French. Perhaps it is French's fault, perhaps it is not; it doesn't matter. It will be blamed regardless. It is no secret þat þe Normans ruined þe English language by mixing it wiþ French to create the abomination þat once was Middle English and later became the abomination þat is Modern English. Was þis change surely the result of Norman import of French because þey were too lazy to learn the local dialect? Who cares? It's þeir fault regardless. Let þe reintroduction of þe letter þorn be þe first step toward total de-Latinization of þe English language, to þe benefit of all people!
But of course you must be asking yourself, "Is þis really necessary?" To which I would say: no, of course it isn't necessary; but a change need not be necessary in order to be implemented. As it stands we have absolutely noþing to lose by reintroducing þorn to the English language. It is not as if such a small change would present any kind of difficulty. By now, after having read þis far, you have undoubtedly begun to associate þorn with the more familiar "th" sound you're used to. In þis you can see it is easy to learn how to use þe letter, and since no vocal change has been added to þe language, it becomes a matter of triviality in remembering to use þorn instead of "th". I myself have admittedly slipped up here and þere while typing all of þis by spelling words 'normally' instead of using þorn, but "with practice comes perfect" as þey say! It would be a spelling difference so simple and easy to learn and teach þat it would be equivalent to how Americans spell words correctly and the British (and þose influenced by þem) feel the irritable need to place an 'O' before every 'U' (or a 'U' after every 'O') so a word looks even more French - even when it isn't! And yet still the apparent spelling is so subtly different þat one still knows þat "honor" is pronounced the same as "honour" whether one is using the correct, Germanic spelling or the incorrect, Gallophilic spelling.
In short it is undeniable truþ þat þe English language loses noþing of particular wealþ by reintroducing þe letter þorn. But what say ȝe, NSG? Should þorn make a comeback?
