To be specific, it was because so many different peoples have invaded the British Isles. I supposed it’s a form of evolution, but at its foundation it’s conquest.
I have an article talking about this sort of stuff (though in much better terms and logic than I am capable of). I know where the article is.
But it’s six hundred kilometres away and behind two locks - only one of which I have the key for. Damn.
Yeah, I know. To spare the rest of the language, some words take on extra functions and meanings. For this, I salute their altruistic illogical usage.
salutes
First off: :smack: Homophones, yes. Secondly, I was more complaining about the spelling this time. -ough used to have a very different sound, one that was eventually lost, which makes threw and through identical in sound.
It is probably impossible for a natural language to be completely independent of context. But, as long as there is a trace of ambiguity, I will on occasion make fun of it. I mock because I care.
You must be really fun at parties.
Maybe I’m just filling in the blanks for no reason, but I always interpreted it as “I suppose I COULD care less, but that’d actually take effort.” In other words “I’m so apathetic about what you just told me it’d actually take MORE effort to care less, and as such make me have to consider and care about your statement more than I do now.”
Well that’s the basis of punning, except the caring part.
I can find tons of things a lot more funny than the phrase “all of a sudden.” How about “all in a day’s work”? Now that’s a real knee slapper.