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Archiver > AUS-CONVICTS > 2005-03 > 1111478287


From: Monissa Whiteley <>
Subject: Re: [AUS-CON] Gaol or Jail - correct spelling
Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2005 18:58:07 +1100
References: <010801c52e79$87c78e90$0100000a@thomas377142dd> <423FC476.00000B.27879@USER>
In-Reply-To: <423FC476.00000B.27879@USER>


Irene R wrote:
> Hi Listers
>
> When I was at school (more years ago than I care to admit) the spelling was
> gaol" so Peter must have a different dictionary from both of my modern ones.
> Both Oxford, one is a junior and the other is a full everyday Oxford one.

Try the 22 volume Oxford English Dictionary :) The reason it's so big
is for every word listed it includes variations in spellings through
the ages & examples of usage from earliest known.

I don't have a copy :( or even notes from it in this case, just a
summary on my webpage: "From the OED, the official British spelling is
gaol but either spelling is acceptable in literary & journalistic
fields. In the US, jail is used at all times."

Macquarie (online version) which usually reflects what is used rather
than what should be used, says: In general the spelling of this word
has shifted in Australian English from gaol to jail. However, gaol
remains fossilised in the names of jails, as Parramatta Gaol, and in
some government usage.

The origins it gives are interesting. For gaol, from Middle English
gay(h)ole, gaile; from Old North French gaiole, gaole; from Latin
cavea (cavity, enclosure, cage). For jail: Middle English jaiole; from
Old French (prison, cage); from Latin cavea (cavity, enclosure, cage)

Both coming from the same Latin word along different routes. One
wonders if gayhole or gaile and jaiole had different meanings or
pronounciations. Possibly not, American Heritage includes Middle
English gaiol, gaol in the development of jail.

Seems to be an long time ago split though (Peter?). Most US/British
variations come about because the American spelling stayed as it was
and the British spelling changed, and often quite recently. You might
noticed the so-called American spellings in convict documents, for
example.

Which doesn't really answer the question of which is correct usage in
Australia. Purists would say it should be the British gaol.
Praticalists would point out that Macquarie says it's jail. I think
jail is too Americanish.


Monissa

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