Can English spelling be reformed?
Most spelling reforms attempt to improve phonemic representation, but some attempt genuine phonetic spelling, usually by changing the basic English alphabet or making a new one. All spelling reforms aim for greater regularity in spelling.
When did English spelling become fixed?
Spelling reform began at least as early as the 12th century, when the unknown author of the Fyrsta Málfræðiritgerðin (‘First Grammatical Treatise’) adapted the Latin alphabet for Old Icelandic, detailing the phonological principles behind the task.
When was the last spelling reform?
Spelling reform may also be associated with wider discussion about the official script, as well as language planning and language reform. Orthographic reform may be reverted. In Romanian, the letter â was eliminated in 1953 but reintroduced in 1993….Indonesian.
| Old spelling | New spelling |
|---|---|
| ch | kh |
When did American spelling become standardized?
In the United States, following the publication of Webster’s dictionary in the early 19th century, American English became more standardized, exclusively using the -er spelling. In addition, spelling of some words have been changed from -re to -er in both varieties.
What is the main reason an English spelling reform is unrealistic?
The main reason that this spelling ideal is more imaginary than realistic is that English has a pretty large vowel inventory (there are some gray areas, but at a minimum, there are about 11 vowel sounds and about three diphthongs in most American English dialects).
Who changed English spelling to American?
founder Noah Webster
Those differences can be largely attributed to Merriam Webster founder Noah Webster, who proposed spelling reforms in the United States starting in the late 1700s. Some of his reforms included changing “centre” to “center” and “draught” to “draft.”
Why is revising English spelling a waste of time?
Research suggests that this is because “decoding” English is much harder than in a language with a more consistent spelling system like Italian. It is understandable why some people see that English’s spelling system is to blame for literacy difficulties.
What is meant by spelling reform?
: a movement to modify conventional spelling so as to lessen or remove the differences between the orthography and the pronunciation of words — compare reformed spelling.
What is the difference between British English and American English spelling?
The main difference is that British English keeps the spelling of words it has absorbed from other languages, mainly French and German. Whilst American English spellings are based mostly on how the word sounds when it is spoken.
What are the three main historical origins for English spelling patterns?
Its history is usually divided into three main phases:
- Old English – from the arrival of the invaders in the 5th century to around 1130.
- Middle English – roughly 1130 to 1470.
- Modern English – about 1470 to the present.
What is the historical reason for the English spelling being haphazard?
With no schools and monasteries teaching ways of writing Old English, any incipient norms were swept away and people hardly literate in the language just tried to spell as the words sounded, with predictably irregular results. Second, after the conquest many scribes were French or French-trained.
How is spelling reform going to be implemented?
Reform proposals vary in terms of the depth of the linguistic changes and by the ways they are implemented. In terms of writing systems, most spelling reform proposals are moderate; they use the traditional English alphabet, try to maintain the familiar shapes of words, and try to maintain common conventions (such as silent e ).
Why is there a movement to change the spelling of English?
For centuries, there has been a movement to reform the spelling of English. It seeks to change English spelling so that it is more consistent, matches pronunciation better, and follows the alphabetic principle. Common motives for spelling reform include quicker, cheaper learning, thus making English more useful for international communication.
Where was the International Convention for spelling reform held?
By the 1870s, the philological societies of Great Britain and America chose to consider the matter. After the “International Convention for the Amendment of English Orthography” that was held in Philadelphia in August 1876, societies were founded such as the English Spelling Reform Association and American Spelling Reform Association.
When did the Royal Society start spelling reform?
Mulcaster’s judgements were astute: more than half match today’s forms. In 1662 the Royal Society was founded. It soon created a committee for ‘improving the English language’, including spelling reform. But it seems the committee – which featured John Dryden, John Evelyn and a score of other luminaries – lasted just a few meetings.