How, Where, When, and What: Origins and Evolution

Introduction to Interrogative Adverbs

Interrogative adverbs are words like why, where, how, and when that we use to start a question. These words are special because they help us seek information about methods (how), places (where), times (when), and reasons (why). In English, these interrogative adverbs often begin with the wh- sound, a pattern shared by many other languages derived from the same Proto-Indo-European root. For example, in Latin and Romance languages, these words typically begin with the qu- sound, while in some Indo-Aryan languages, they start with a kw- sound. This linguistic feature can be fascinating and useful to understand for anyone interested in the history of language or just curious about vocabulary.

The Proto-Germanic and Proto-Indo-European Roots

The words we use today for why, where, how, and when in English come from the Proto-Germanic language, which was spoken around 1,000 years ago. Even further back, we can trace these words to the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) language. The PIE root for these words is kwo-, which was like a primitive question marker used to seek information about a method, place, time, or cause.

The Evolution of Interrogative Adverbs in English

The development of how, where, and when became slightly different in English because of sound changes during the transition from Old English (circa 450-1100 AD) to Middle English (circa 1100-1500 AD).

How: The earliest Old English form of how was hwām (m.), hwā (neut.), hw?t (neut.), which is derived from the PIE *kowosd-. Where: The earliest Old English form of where was hw?r, a form similar to the Proto-Germanic word : breacheshwe (meaning whence, whence, where, thither or hither). When: The earliest Old English form of when was hw?nne, hw?nne, hwunn. What: Similar to how, the earliest Old English form of what was hwām, hwé, hw?t, hw?s.

The development of what in English is a bit different. While how, where, and when become more uninflected over time, what retains more inflection until the modern period. For instance, in Middle English, we see the usage of what in various forms, such as whate, whete, whete, whath, whete, whath.

The Curious Case of What

The word what truly stands out when we compare it with other interrogative adverbs. While how, where, and when have largely simplified their forms over time, what has maintained a more complex structure. For example, in medieval English, we see multiple forms and usages of what, such as whath, what, whate, whete, whete, whath.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the question words in English are a fascinating look at the evolution of language over time. From the Proto-Indo-European kwo- root to the diverse forms and usages we see today, these words tell a story about how our language has changed and adapted over centuries. Understanding the origins of these words can give us deeper insight into the history of English and the roots of language itself.