• _NoName_@lemmy.ml
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    5 days ago

    I think It was common in middle English to omit the ‘e’, leaving it to context for the reader to infer the meaning. I see this in alot of shorthand and other alphabets like Shavian.

    • lunarul@lemmy.world
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      4 days ago

      leaving it to context for the reader to infer the meaning

      So the same way we differentiate between the two sounds “th” can make?

      • _NoName_@lemmy.ml
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        4 days ago

        Kinda, yeah. The difference is that it’s not a per-word basis where you have to memorize dozens of cases. Much less cumbersome on learners. There’s nothing wrong with just writing ‘ðe’ either, if the writer prefers.