On spelling
On spelling
(OP)
I first ran across this little gem my junior or senior year in college, pulbished in the classic collection of short essays, "A Stress Analysis of a Strapless Evening Gown".
This essay lays out a very sensible progression towards a more rationalized system of spelling for the English language.
MEIHEM IN CE KLASRUM
http://www.cise.ufl.edu/~dcc/old/chris/meihem.htm
This essay lays out a very sensible progression towards a more rationalized system of spelling for the English language.
MEIHEM IN CE KLASRUM
http://www.cise.ufl.edu/~dcc/old/chris/meihem.htm





RE: On spelling
Possibly from a similar Science Fiction anthology. It contains a nice gradtaion of spelling and grammar from Algernon as a simpleton to when he bacame a genius (and reverted when the treatment wore off).
RE: On spelling
(Sorry that was a bit off-topic, but the book is worth it!)
Good Luck
johnwm
RE: On spelling
Buy a dictionary, keep it nearby and USE it. Webster's New World Dictionary of American English is recommended, and Webster's Collegiate Dictionary.
RE: On spelling
For example, in Year 1 that useless letter "c" would be dropped to be replased either by "k" or "s", and likewise "x" would no longer be part of the alphabet. The only kase in which "c" would be retained would be the "ch" formation, which will be dealt with later. Year 2 might reform "w" spelling, so that "which" and "one" would take the same konsonant, wile Year 3 might well abolish "y" replasing it with "i" and Iear 4 might fiks the "g
j" anomali wonse and for all.
Jenerally, then, the improvement would kontinue iear bai iear with Iear 5 doing awai with useless double konsonants, and Iears 6-12 or so modifaiing vowlz and the rimeining voist and unvoist konsonants. Bai Iear 15 or sou, it wud fainali bi posibl tu meik ius ov thi ridandant letez "c", "y" and "x" -- bai now jast a memori in the maindz ov ould doderez -- tu riplais "ch", "sh", and "th" rispektivli.
Fainali, xen, aafte sam 20 iers ov orxogrefkl riform, wi wud
hev a lojikl, kohirnt speling in ius xrewawt xe Ingliy-spiking werld.
Mark Twain (1835 - 1910), "A Plan for the Improvement of English Spelling"
RE: On spelling