CHAT behove etc (was: Natlag: Middle English impersonal verbs)

Tristan Alexander McLeay wrote:
> On 10/03/06, Sally Caves <scaves@...> wrote:
[snip]
>>>>I wonder if behoves was an impersonal verb that just hung in there.  It
>>>>behoves me to write that letter of recommendation.
>>>
>>>(Isn't that normally spelled "behooves"?)
>>
>>Yup, typo.  Also influenced by the old spelling.
>
>
> I was of the impression "behoove" is American and "behove" is British
> (and presumably Australian)---
"behove" is British. It is, however, historically pronounced /bI'hu:v/,
i.e. rhyming with "move". But because the world is rarely used, on the
few occasions when it is, one more often than not hears a spelling
pronunciation that makes it rhyme with 'rove' & 'trove'.

It seems our Merkan cousins have retained the historic pronunciation,
but amended the spelling accordingly, tho not carrying the reform
through to 'move' or 'prove'      :)

And on both sides of the Pond we continue to write 'dove', 'love' &
'shove', despite the absurdity of the spelling.

--
Ray
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