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Robert Bridges
On English Homophones Society for Pure English, Tract 02

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On English Homophones Society for Pure English, Tract 02

by Robert Bridges

EN·~1 hours·15 chapters

Chapters

15 total

I. THE MAIN LIST OF HOMOPHONES.

14:44

II. All the following examples involve wh. \> w.

0:24

III. Group of Homophones caused by loss of trilled R.

0:15

IV. The name of a species (of animals, plants, &c.) is often a homophone. Where there is only one alternative meaning, this causes so little inconvenience that the following names (being in that condition) have been excluded from List I.

1:03

V. The suffix er added to a root often makes homophones. The following are examples. (And see in List VI.)

0:38

VI. Words excluded from the main list for various reasons, their homophony being rightly questioned by many speakers.

0:53

VII. Homophones due only to an inflected form of a word. Comparatives of adjectives, &c.

2:55

VIII. 'False homophones' \[see p. \], doubtful doublets, &c.

1:44

IX. The following words were not admitted into the main class chiefly on account of their unimportance.

1:53

1\. That homophones are a nuisance.

8:59

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Description

In this concise treatise the author unpacks the curious world of English homophones—words that sound alike but differ in origin and meaning. Starting with a clear definition, the text separates true homophones from merely ambiguous spellings, using lively examples such as “draft” and “beam” to illustrate how identical sounds can mask vastly different concepts. The discussion moves beyond textbook lists, probing the subtle ways habit hides the inconvenience of these pairs from everyday speakers.

Listeners will discover how deeply these sound‑alikes are woven into poetry and prose, from Milton to Shakespeare, and why we rarely notice their potential for confusion. The author blends linguistic analysis with literary quotes, offering a thoughtful look at how our ears and minds navigate meaning without pause. By the end of the first act, the treatise invites anyone who loves language to listen more closely and appreciate the hidden layers of everyday speech.

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Details

Full title

On English Homophones Society for Pure English, Tract 02 Society for Pure English, Tract 02

Language

Duration

~1 hours (111K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Credits

Produced by David Starner, William Flis and the PG Online Distributed Proofreading Team.

Release date

Dec 1, 2004

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

Source

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14227

Subjects

English language -- Homonyms PE

About the author

Robert Bridges

1844–1930

A poet who came to literary fame later in life, he combined classical polish with a deep love of language and sound. Best remembered as Britain’s Poet Laureate and as the champion who helped bring Gerard Manley Hopkins to a wider audience, he wrote verse that is graceful, reflective, and often musical.

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