Why do languages break their rules so much? (e.g. irregular verbs)
In: 10
A language isn’t something that has a pre-designed structure. It grows and changes over time sometimes for no reason other than people hearing things wrong.
Recent example for English: “He did it on accident”.
Why is “on accident” wrong? Why was “by accident” correct to begin with? Likewise, why is “by purpose” wrong and “on purpose” correct?
You might be able to find the etymology of these expressions but many times it’s “just because”.
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