http://blog.myheritage.com/2010/11/the-origins-of-o-k/ Thu, 23 May 2013 13:30:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://blog.myheritage.com/2010/11/the-origins-of-o-k/#comment-1902 Paul Curwood Sun, 05 Dec 2010 14:20:14 +0000 http://blog.myheritage.com/?p=6194#comment-1902 I always thought OK originated as a form of communication during infantry battles of the U.S. Marines of WW2. The hand sign of OK without speaking was a signal that 'all was well', especially when the noise of battle made verbal communication impossible. That's my take on the origins of 'OK'. I always thought OK originated as a form of communication during infantry battles of the U.S. Marines of WW2. The hand sign of OK without speaking was a signal that ‘all was well’, especially when the noise of battle made verbal communication impossible. That’s my take on the origins of ‘OK’.

]]> http://blog.myheritage.com/2010/11/the-origins-of-o-k/#comment-1863 Michael A Bain Thu, 02 Dec 2010 20:49:37 +0000 http://blog.myheritage.com/?p=6194#comment-1863 O.K. Did not originate in Europe, the U.S. or even through the English language. There exists a considerable amount of well corroborated evidence to suggest that it made its way to the U.S. in the mouths of slaves from a particular part of the West African state of Benin. Variants on the original expression can also be found in the spoken languages of the states immediately adjacent to Benin and its current meaning, while not identical to that of the earlier expression shows sufficient similarity to allow a fairly firm supposition to be made that it was derived from the African term. A favourite among etymologists. O.K. Did not originate in Europe, the U.S. or even through the English language. There exists a considerable amount of well corroborated evidence to suggest that it made its way to the U.S. in the mouths of slaves from a particular part of the West African state of Benin. Variants on the original expression can also be found in the spoken languages of the states immediately adjacent to Benin and its current meaning, while not identical to that of the earlier expression shows sufficient similarity to allow a fairly firm supposition to be made that it was derived from the African term. A favourite among etymologists.

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