Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

I just found this site and saw a post from someone who was wondering about how or why the word "by" is used instesd of to or at. I think the fact that he initially heard it in southeaster Wisconsin is the answer. Milwaukee has a strong German ethnic presence. In German the word"Bei" (pronounced "by") means to or at and because of the identical sound the German and the English became confused. It's what is sometimes called the "schoenste language"