". . . . a surge of power from a circle ​….

close
more_vert
Steve Gray S
Steve Gray Jan 16, 2004 08:00:48
Replying to TomBo

You may be right about the the "p"s and "f"s, but I don't think that applies to "finial". According to Hyperdictionary "finial" is derived from the Latin "finire" (to finish). On the other hand "phenomenon" comes from the Greek. For some reason the Greek "f" is "phi", which is almost always transliterated as "ph". I suspect this is because at some time in the past there was an audible difference between an English "f" sound and the Greek equivalent that has since disappeared.

T TomBo
TomBo Jan 16, 2004 09:46:10
Replying to Steve Gray

I'd go along with that - you can't argue with the dictionary (well, you can, but you've got to have your shit together in quite a big way!). The p/f sound change thing is well recognised, by the way - its called Grimm's Law, after Jakob Grimm (of brothers Grimm fame), who first noticed this phenomenon. It covers the sound change from "b" to "v", too - evident in the name/pronunciation of (the allegedly unpronouncable) Cnoc Fillibhear Bheag. I can't remember properly but it may also include "d" to "th".