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Is there any evidence that the third person singular -s can be traced back to a lexical item before it became an inflection ? I am trying to see if the theory of grammaticalization applies to its diachronic process. Any information would be most helpful. Thanks so much.

marta
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    PIE -ti* --> PGmc -di* / *-ði --> AS -t / -ð --> ME -s (northern) / -th (southern) --> ModE -s is how I've seen it. Late, the northern dialect of Middle English used -s instead of -th, under the influence of Norse -sk. Eventually this displaced the -th altogether. But it seems to be inflectional all the way back to PIE. – Mark Beadles Jan 23 '12 at 04:47
  • belongs on linguistics – FumbleFingers Jan 23 '12 at 05:14
  • Yes, linguisticsSE would be more appropriate. Interesting question, though. – Kris Jan 23 '12 at 05:30
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    On topic here. We specifically invite linguists and etymologists to ask and answer questions, and we specifically invite questions about English grammar and etymology. A question about the history of third person singular -s is a question of English etymology and grammar on the face of it. Off topic at linguistics.se. "If you have questions about a single language (if the question only concerns that language), this might not be your place; in such a case, consider visiting the Language related StackExchange sites." – MetaEd Jan 23 '12 at 16:04

2 Answers2

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Almost certainly not. The usual 3rd person singular inflection in Old English was -th or -eth and it looks as if its replacement by -s came about by a process of sound change.

Barrie England
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    Thanks Berrie, all the evidence thus far has pointed me in that same direction. – marta Jan 23 '12 at 13:13
  • @Barrie England, I've found this comment 3 years late, being new to Stack Exchange, but isn't it odd that English, which has always had the 2 'th' sounds, 'chose' to switch them to 's' in just one situation? – David Garner Apr 08 '15 at 16:13
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I will promote my comment to an answer here too.

PIE -ti -> PGmc -di/-ði -> AS -t/-ð/-þ -> ME -th (Southern)/ -s (Northern) -> ModE -s

The Northern -s came from the influence of Norse mediopassive -sk; eventually the Northern usage became standard in Modern English. According to this, the form has been inflectional at least back to late PIE.

Mark Beadles
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