Wit, uncer, and git were once the intimate words for two people in English, now vanished after centuries of linguistic simplification. These dual pronouns, used for centuries in Old English poetry like 'Wulf and Eadwacer' and 'Beowulf', captured a unique sense of two-ness that modern English lacks. Professor Tom Birkett explains their disappearance around the 13th century as part of a broader trend towards linguistic simplicity, driven by Viking and Norman invasions and shifting social structures.

The Normans' introduction of the French plural 'vous' for singular respect further eroded the distinction between singular and plural 'you', leading to the extinction of Old English singular pronouns like 'thou'. While some Old English pronouns like 'he' and 'it' persisted, the dual form vanished, leaving a gap in expressing intimacy for exactly two people. Birkett highlights the poetic power of these lost words, noting their use in creating an intimate connection between two individuals against the world.

The story of 'wit' and its kin underscores how social upheaval and cultural contact fundamentally reshape language, often at the cost of nuanced expression.