What is the Special Character Thorn?

The special character thorn (þ) is a letter that originated in the Old English and Old Norse alphabets. It represents the “th” sound, as in the words “that,” “thin,” and “think” in modern English. Visually, the lowercase thorn (þ) resembles a “p” with a tail or a “y,” while the uppercase thorn (Þ) looks like a stylized “P” with a crossbar. Despite its historical significance, the letter thorn is largely absent from modern English but remains a crucial component of the Icelandic alphabet.

The History and Usage of Thorn

Origins in Old English and Old Norse

The letter thorn (þ) was a vital part of the writing systems used in both Old English and Old Norse. In these languages, it exclusively represented the “th” sound which can be voiced (like the “th” in “that”) or voiceless (like the “th” in “thin”). The absence of a dedicated character for this sound in the Latin alphabet led to the adoption of thorn.

The Fall of Thorn in English

Over time, as printing became more common, the thorn presented logistical challenges. The shape of þ was difficult for early printers to reproduce consistently. Consequently, thorn was often replaced by either “th” or the visually similar “y.” The substitution with “y,” while readable, was not intuitive as the sounds represented are entirely different. This practice led to confusion and, ultimately, the decline of thorn. The convention of using “th” eventually dominated, and thorn vanished entirely from English texts by approximately 1400.

Modern Relevance: Icelandic

Despite its disappearance from English, thorn remains a vital letter in the Icelandic alphabet, where it continues to represent the “th” sound. The pronunciation can vary slightly within Icelandic, but it maintains its core phonetic role. Its continued use in Icelandic showcases the letter’s longevity and ongoing importance in linguistic heritage.

The Character Code

Thorn has specific character codes that allow it to be typed on computers. The uppercase thorn (Þ) can be accessed using ALT + 0222 (on the numeric keypad), while the lowercase thorn (þ) can be typed using ALT + 0254. These character codes are based on the ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) system.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions about the special character thorn (þ):

1. How do you type the thorn character on a keyboard?
   To type a lowercase thorn (þ) on a full-size keyboard, press and hold the ALT key while typing 0254 on the numeric keypad. For the uppercase thorn (Þ), use ALT + 0222. On Android devices, you can often access þ by long-pressing the “t” key.

2. What does the character code 0222 represent?
   The character code 0222 represents the uppercase thorn (Þ) in the ASCII system.

3. What does the character code 0254 represent?
   The character code 0254 represents the lowercase thorn (þ) in the ASCII system.

4. Why did thorn disappear from the English alphabet?
   Thorn was phased out due to difficulties in printing, which led to the substitution of “th” and, initially, “y” in its place. The use of “th” became the standard practice, and thorn eventually became obsolete in English.

5. Is thorn used in any modern languages?
   Yes, thorn is still actively used in the Icelandic alphabet, where it represents the “th” sound.

6. What is the meaning of ꝧ?
   ꝧ is the LATIN SMALL LETTER THORN WITH STROKE THROUGH DESCENDER. It’s a variation of thorn, not typically found in common use today.

7. Why does thorn sometimes look like a “y”?
   In the absence of the thorn character in early printing presses, the letter “y” was chosen as its visual substitute because it was the closest available character. This substitution led to some confusion regarding its sound.

8. What is the pronunciation of thorn?
   Thorn (þ) represents the “th” sound as in “thin,” “that,” and “through.” It can be either voiced or voiceless, depending on the specific word.

9. What is the old letter that looks like P?
   The old letter that looks like “P” (but with a cross bar) is the uppercase thorn (Þ).

10. How do I get the thorn on my keyboard using Gboard?
    On Gboard, set your language to “Alphabet.” Then, long-press the “t” key to access þ and the “d” key to access ð (eth), another obsolete Old English letter.

11. What is the letter called æ?
    The letter æ is called ash. It is an old English letter and is still part of some modern languages.

12. What is the origin of the letter ash?
    The letter ash is named after the Futhark rune ash.

13. What is a thorn in English in a common context?
    In English, a thorn can refer to a sharp, pointed projection on a plant. It is also often used metaphorically to represent a source of persistent irritation or difficulty, such as “a thorn in one’s side.”

14. What are the other obsolete letters that were removed from the alphabet?
    Besides thorn (þ), the obsolete letters removed from the English alphabet include eth (ð), wynn (ƿ), yogh (ȝ), ash (æ), and ethel (œ).

15. Is the Thorn character used to represent anyone, such as the name of a character?
    Yes, the name Thorn is also used as a name for characters. A good example is Princess Alyrra, the main character in a novel called Thorn. Also there is Thorn Queen, a character from the book Eugenie Markham.

In conclusion, the letter thorn (þ) stands as a fascinating testament to the evolution of writing systems. While no longer a part of the English alphabet, its presence in Old English, Old Norse, and still in use in Icelandic, reflects its significant role in linguistic history. Understanding thorn provides valuable insight into the dynamic nature of language.