In which I query grammar

[burntcopper]

In this, which I provided icons for two quotes, I'm just wondering - shouldn't it be 'A plague *on* both your houses'? Never heard anyone contract on to o'. o' is always 'of', or 'of the' in English. No matter how far you go back in literary endeavours.

All to do with that fabulous glottal stop we like to utilise. You can't glottal stop or contract an n, that's all. Ts, Fs, and Gs are fair game.

Comments

[cangetmad.livejournal.com]

I thought so, but: it seems not. Huh. Because you're right about the glottal stop in the present day. Must be a historical dialect thing.

[burntcopper.livejournal.com]

:checks Oxford Shakespeare: hmm, you're right. Shakespeare's a weirdo. Must be a Brummie thing.

[cangetmad.livejournal.com]

Shakespeare's a weirdo. Must be a Brummie thing.

Amen to that general truth.