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ArchivesRe: Elizabeth / Penny / Penelope
in reply to a message by Peter
What are these number of sources? The most likely pathway is through ethnic variations like Elisapeta (Samoan, nn usually Peta or Peka) or Elspeth (Scots). It would also involved some rather complex rhyming manouveres which isn't terribly likely - most people find Beth-Bett-Betty-Tetty a bit of a stretch.
Is morphology being used to describe anything but a branch of biology these days? How strange. But I can see what you're meaning so oddly effective. The path of change that gets Penny from Penelope and Peninah is the English habit of shortening names from the first syllable. In Latin-based languages it's often a habit of shortening from the final syllable. So Thomas becomes 'Tom' but Tomas is often 'Mas'. My cousin Penelope is 'Penny' in America but the French cousins say Lope a bit like Lupe. And one uncle calls her Cantalope but that's another story.....
Devon
Is morphology being used to describe anything but a branch of biology these days? How strange. But I can see what you're meaning so oddly effective. The path of change that gets Penny from Penelope and Peninah is the English habit of shortening names from the first syllable. In Latin-based languages it's often a habit of shortening from the final syllable. So Thomas becomes 'Tom' but Tomas is often 'Mas'. My cousin Penelope is 'Penny' in America but the French cousins say Lope a bit like Lupe. And one uncle calls her Cantalope but that's another story.....
Devon
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Replies
I knew a girl years ago whose given names were Yvonne Frances; she had a nursemaid, of all things, as a baby who called her Penny Squeaker, and she was accordingly always known as Penny, in and out of the family. She didn't respond to Yvonne at all.
However, once she got to university she shared digs with two other girls who happily expanded Penny back to Penelope and called her Lopes! (Not Lopes - lopes like a rabbit moving) And she responded happily to that as well ... if I saw her again, it's probably what I'd instinctively call her, after over 30 years.
However, once she got to university she shared digs with two other girls who happily expanded Penny back to Penelope and called her Lopes! (Not Lopes - lopes like a rabbit moving) And she responded happily to that as well ... if I saw her again, it's probably what I'd instinctively call her, after over 30 years.
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