The Governator
Jim from Northport asked, “Why is Gubernatorial the adjective for the noun governor? Why are the B and V interchanged?”
Interchanging the two letters began back in the ancient Greek period. Both are called labials because the lips are involved in pronouncing them. Because the two are closely allied in their formation, it was easy to confuse them. The blending of the two is known as betacism; beta was the Greek name for our B sound. If English formation had prevailed, we could very well have an adjective spelled governatorial.
Both words, and all variations containing the root govern, stem from a Latin word—guberna—that meant a steersman or the pilot of a vessel. The concepts of guidance and protection are baked into the root.
By the way, the same kind of linguistic musical chairs can take place with D, T, and TH.
Dese guys and dem gals already know dat.
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