LL-L "Orthography" 2004.06.25 (06) [E]
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Fri Jun 25 14:59:23 UTC 2004
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L O W L A N D S - L * 25.JUN.2004 (06) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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A=Afrikaans Ap=Appalachian B=Brabantish D=Dutch E=English F=Frisian
L=Limburgish LS=Lowlands Saxon (Low German) N=Northumbrian
S=Scots Sh=Shetlandic V=(West)Flemish Z=Zeelandic (Zeêuws)
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From: Dan Prohaska <daniel at ryan-prohaska.com>
Subject: Spelling Reform (E)
Dear All,
Recently an all-time reoccurring topic popped up again here: A reform of
English spelling. For just under a year now I’ve been a member of an e-mail
correspondence list called “saundspel”. Never before have I seen so many
different spelling proposals for English. Of course that inspired me to
create my own ‘reformed’ English spelling. I had come up with several
spelling systems most of which found little favour with the list members.
Lately I’ve settled for a moderate approach which cuts redundant letters and
places diacritics on vowels to distinguish quality and/or quantity. Apart
from afore mentioned simplifications there is also a set of morphemes that
are distinguished. It is by no means a phonemic spelling system, but a
system that aims for high predictability and retention of legibility of
traditional spelling (TS) rather than an ideal phonemic representation of a
certain accent of world English. It allows variants for forms that are
incompatible but tries to minimise these to changes in diacritics. My system
is still very much under construction, it’s a cut and paste job of several
proposals that have been brought forth on the list. Some approaches I have
found, others I have plagiarised from other saundspellers. Here’s a quick
guide to the general system:
Vowels:
The short vowels in stressed position generally stay the same:
<a> as in TS <pat>, <mad>; generally there is no distinction made
between the vowel in <pat> and <pass>; this could from a UK perspective be
construed as a Northernism, though it is actually a compromise towards US
English, optionally southern UK English speakers can place <^> on the <a> to
distinguish it. In final position of polysyllabic words <a> represents
schwa, as in <sofa>, and in final position of monosyllabic words <a>
represents the diphthong /eI/ as in <tha> TS ‘they’ and <da> TS ‘day’.
<e> as in <pet>, <wed>; note that words such as ‘any’ and ‘many’ are
changed to <eny> and <meny>;
<i> as in <pit>, <lid>;
<o> as in <pot>, <cod>; when ‘au’ is short the spelling is changed to
<o> as in ‘because’ which becomes <becos>;
In final position <o> stands for the diphthong /@U/ as in <go>,
<lo> ‘low’, or <tho> ‘though’.
<u> stands for the vowels in <put> and <putt>. The vowel in <put>,
<gud> ‘good’ and <wud> ‘would’ can optionally be written <ü>: <püt>, <güd>,
<wüd> if desired.
<y> occurs in word final position as the unstressed high front vowel,
as in <tíny> ‘tiny’. Note that it does not change in the plural: <story> =>
<storys>. Stressed <y> in final position is the diphthong /aI/ as in <hy>
‘high’; <ly> ‘lie’; <why>; <shy>; in cases of doubt <y> when /aI/ is written
<ý> as in <simplifý>.
Accented vowels:
<á> is the diphthong in ‘made’, ‘raid’, ‘stayed’: <mád>, <rád>, <stád>.
Note that <stád> alternates with <sta> though <stá> is also permitted.
<â> is the long vowel in ‘father’ <fâther>. US speakers an
alternatively write words such as UK <bother> as US <bather>.
<é> is the long vowel in ‘leave’, ‘keen’, ‘speak’, ‘speech’, ‘detail’:
<lév>, <kén>, <spék>, <spéch>, <détál>. Word finally <é> can also be written
without the acute accent if it leaves no room for doubt: ‘be’, ‘see’, ‘thee’
, ‘me’ => <bé>, <sé>, <thé>, <mé>, or <be>, <se>, <me>, but not *the* ‘thee’
because of <the> ‘the’.
<í> is the diphthong /aI/ in ‘side’, ‘white’, ‘light’, ‘write’: <síd>,
<whit>, <lít>, <rít>. Words that have /aI/ in final position have <y>:
<hy> - <hyer> ‘high’ – ‘higher’; <ly> - <lyd> (or lýd) ‘lie’ – ‘lied’.
<ì> is used where traditional spelling has the Latin value as in
<clìk> or <antìc> ‘antique’ which can alternatively have the ‘anglicised’
spelling <anték>.
<ó> is the diphthong /@U/ (except word finally), ‘holy’, ‘wholly’,
‘both’, ‘home’: <holy>, <holy>, <both>, <hóm>. <Ó> can alternate with <o> in
‘flow’ – ‘flowing’ <flo> - <flóing> etc.
<ú> is /j/+/u:/, ‘use’, ‘few’, ‘new’, ‘music’, ‘human’, ‘duke’: <ús>,
<fú>, <nú>, <músic>, <húman>, <dúk>. US can distinguish /ju:/ with <músic>
and /u:/ in <prodûs> by using <û> or <u> word finally in <nu>. ‘You’ is
written as the sight word <U> which contrasts with sight word <I>.
<û> is the long /u:/ in ‘group’, ‘loose’, ‘move’: <grûp>, <lûs>,
<mûv>. In word final position the acute accent can be left out: ‘who’, ‘glue
’, ‘blue’, ‘to/two/too’, ‘do’ <hu>, <glu>, <blu>, <tu>, <du>.
<ù> this is the short /j/+/U/ combination in ‘irregular’ <iregùlar>.
The original /j/ has often caused palatalisation either with or without
subsequent loss of the /U/ component as in ‘usual’ <úzùal>, ‘educational’
<edùcáznl>.
<au> is the half open back vowel <O:>. Word finally <au> is spelt <aw>.
UK English continues to distinguish ‘flaw’ and ‘floor’ as <flaw> and <flor>,
as well as ‘flawed’ and ‘floored’ which are <flaud> and <flord>. In many
instanced US speakers can replace UK <au> with US <o> where in US
pronunciation /O:/ and /A/ have coalesced, as in UK <aul> vs. US <ol> ‘all’;
UK <aut> vs. US <ot> for ‘ought’.
<ou> is the diphthong <aU> as in ‘house’, ‘louse’, ‘out’, ‘shout’:
<hous>, <lous>, <out>, <shout>. Word finally <ou> is spelt <ow>: ‘now’, ‘cow
’, ‘how’: <now>, <cow>, <how>.
<oi> as in traditional spelling: ‘boil’, ‘foil’, ‘annoyed’, ‘toyed’:
<boil>, <foil>, <anoid>, <toid>. Word finally <oi> is spelt <oy>: <boy>,
<anoy>, <toy>.
<ea> constrasts with <éa> in <ídea> vs. <ídéal>.
<ia> though generally <ia> is written for /I@/: <aria>; <Britania>.
Unstressed vowels:
/@/ schwa is probably the most complicated vowel to approach
systematically in English without inventing a separate symbol for it. I
would have agreed to the turned e of IPA, but most e-mail codes are not
compatible with this as yet. It would also destroy the visual link between
various derivations. Schwa can thus be as diversely spelt as in traditional
spelling. However I wanted to raise predictability. Word initially and
finally schwa is usually <a>: ‘sofa’, ‘ago’, ‘along’, ‘anew’: <sófa>, <ago>,
<along>, <anú>. In checked position, i.e. when followed by a consonant schwa
is <e>: ‘redundant’ <redundent>, ‘society’ <sosíety>, ‘appearance’
<apérens>. Concerning schwa are also the most morphemic generalisations such
as: ‘-able/-ible’ becomes <-abl>; schwa in ‘pro-‘, ‘con-‘ and ‘com-‘ remains
<o>; ‘-er’ is <-er> etc. Exceptions are when derivations show another vowel
such as <regular> with <–ar> because of <regùlarity> vs. <náber> and
<náberhud>, <ability> because of <ábl>.
/I/ and /i/ is <y> word finally and <e> internally: ‘because’, ‘wanted’,
‘believe’, ‘enough’, ‘sorry’, ‘story’, ‘foreign’, ‘horrid’: <becos>,
<wonted>, <belév>, <enuf>, <sorry>, <story>, <forren>, <horred>.
Consonants:
Consonant are generally not doubled except where ambiguous and then only
<rr> as in <sorry>, <lurry>, <ocurens> vs. <ocur>.
b, d, f, h, l, m, n, p, qu, r, t, v, w, x are the same as in traditional
spelling:
<c> has the value /k/ and is generally written before consonants <a>,
<o>, and <u>. Word initially <c> can also stand for /s/ before <e>, <i> and
<y>. It is part of the standardised suffix <-ic>.
<k> has always got the value /k/. It is generally written before <e>
and <i>, as well as word finally in monosyllabic words.
<g> always has the value /g/. Where TS has /dZ/ the reformed spelling
has <j>.
<j> always has the value /dZ/.
<s> RS (reformed spelling) does not distinguish between voiced /z/ and
voiceless /s/. Both are spelt <s>. Alternatively /s/ can be spelt <c> in
word initial position if TS has ‘c’ here. The voiced or voiceless character
of <s> can on occasion be seen in verbs where the past tense (and/or
participle) ending is <d> or <t>: ‘pronounced> <pronounst> vs. ‘caused’
<causd>. The suffixes such as’-tion’, ‘-sion’ /S at n/, ‘-tial, -sial, -cial’
/S at l/ are standardised as <-sion> and <-sial>
<y> is the semi-vowel /j/ in ‘year’, ‘yacht’, ‘yellow’: <yér> (US alt.
<yir>), <yot>, <yelo>.
<z> word internally it stands for /Z/, especially before <-ion> and
<-ùr>: ‘measure’, ‘treasure’, ‘leisure’, ‘vision’, ‘occasion’: <mezùr>,
<trezùr>, <lezùr>, <vizion>, <ocázion>.
In initial position <z> stands for /z/ as in TS: ‘zeal’ <zél>,
‘zone’ <zón>, ‘zillion’ <zillion>.
<sh> is /S/ in initial position as in <ship>, and word finally such as
<fish>, <Inglish>.
<th> as in TS there is no distinction between voiced /D/ and voiceless
/T/. ‘the’, ‘they’, ‘their’, ‘bath’ vs. ‘bathe’, ‘south’ vs. ‘southern’:
<the>, <tha>, <thár>, <bath> vs. <báth>, <south> vs. <suthern>.
<wh>, <w> the <wh> spelling is optional and can be written wherever TS has
<wh>. But alternatively <wh> can simply be spelt <w>.
Other sounds and their spelling:
/3:/ is generally written <er> except in a few words that alternate
with /V/ in derivatives such as ‘occur’ <ocur> vs. ‘occurrence’ <ocurens>.
/E@/ is <-ár->: ‘bare’, ‘pair’, ‘where’, ‘their’, ‘there’: <bár>, <pár>,
<whár>, <thár>, <thár>.
/i@/ can be <-ior> in words such as ‘inferior’ <inferior>, because of
‘inferiority’ <inferiority>. Otherwise in r-combinations it is spelt <ér>:
‘here’, ‘hear’ both <hér>. ‘Idea’ is <ídea>.
RS allows all kinds of alternatives where regional difference of
pronunciation of a national standard variety is phonemically distinct. The
most examples will result from differences between UK and US pronunciation.
Here are a few examples:
UK US TS
aluminùm alûminum
nú nu
tu prodús tu prodûs
íther éther
dans (opt. dâns) dans
chans (opt. châns) chans
clark clerk
shedùl skedùl
privasy prívasy
tomâto tomáto
got gotn
advertisment advertísment
anti- antí-
capsúl capsl
clìk clik
(clique)
dâta, dáta dáta, data
herb, erb erb, herb
lezùr lézùr
léver lever
leftenent lûtenent
misíl misl
prógres progres
rût rout, rût
vâs vás
roth rath
(wrath)
ároplán árplán
darby derby
gusbery gûsbery
Here’s an example text in RS:
Cornish Launch Fít for Inclûzion on the Frámwerk Convension ov Nasionl
Mínoritys: Grand Bard Spéks Out Agenst Asimilásion
Brussels / Bruxelles 3/8/2004 , by Davyth Hicks
On Frídá Cornish campáners fíting for the rít tu be ofisially recognísd as
an ethnic mínority launcht a légl chalenj agenst the British Guvernment in
the Hy Cort in Lunden.
The campáners from the civl ríts NGO, Cornwall 2000, chós St Pyran's Da, the
pátron sánt ov Cornwall, to isù jûdisial révú procédings agenst the Hóm
Ofis.
Párents hav bén frustráted at the guvernments refúsl tu extend the
provizions ov the Counsl ov Europ Frámewerk Convension for the Protecsion ov
Nasionl Mínoritys tu Cornish pépl.
Auther and civl ríts campáner John Angarrack, from Bodmin, sed scûls had
mist out on milions ov pounds ov extra funding tu promót the Cornish langwej
and cultùr.
Thár hav aulso bén insidents ov Cornish children béing punisht at scûl for
sáing tha wer Cornish and not Inglish.
Mr Angarrack tóld the pres that: "Pépl lík the Ulster Scots and Gaels hav
had milions ov pounds aworded tu thár cultùral grûps and edùcásion sistm tu
develop thár langwej, history and cultùr and we hav had nuthing.
"This is the ferst tím the Cornish hav actùally instigáted acsion agenst the
guvernment. The Cornish pépl hav bén on the recéving end ov litigásion from
central guvernment befor but this is the ferst tím we hav gon doun this rût
ourselvs." He sed the acsion wos béing braut under húman ríts lejislásion
and the Rás Relásions Act.
"The Hóm Ofis is stil preventing the Cornish from benefiting from the meny
edùcásionl and cultùral ríts acorded tu nasionl mínoritys by the Frámwerk
Convension. Thár is no légl justificásion for this." he sed.
Solisiter Martin Pearce, hu is acting for the grûp ov párents, tóld the
Western Morning Nús that: "The Cornish wont recognision under the
convension. But representativs hav bén tóld that wón't hapn becos the
Cornish hav not bén recognísd as an ethnic grûp by the British corts."
Campáners hav aulredy discust the merits ov the cás with the Comision for
Rásial Equolity. Tha debáted discriminásion in the provizion ov edùcásion
and cultùral funding as wel as conserns over housing and emploiment.
The légl acsion is líkly tu be embaresing for the Hóm Ofis in the very sám
yér that the guvernment is oblíjd tu submit its secnd Frámwerk Convension
Complíens Report tu the Counsl ov Europ.
The légl submision asks the Hóm Ofis a number ov importent questsions
reláting tu the formùlásion and implementásion ov British rás polisy.
Campáners sa thár is clér evidens that léving the Cornish out ov the
convension is unlauful.
The acsion folós a sucsesful méting the wék befor, whár párents and ofisials
from the Comision for Rásial Equolity resulted in the Comision promising tu
ták imédiat acsion.
Tha sa tha wil combat discriminásion agenst the Cornish in the félds ov
edùcásionl provision and cultùral funding.
Párents fíting for thár childrens rít tu hav the Cornish langwej, history
and cultùr taut in scûls atended the méting in Lunden at the end ov
February. The méting consentráted on the guvernments obligásions tuwords the
Cornish in respect ov laus desínd tu end the marjinlísásion and forst
asimilásion ov cultùral mínoritys.
Spesific áreas discust inclûded public authority presentásion ov history,
mínority langwej oportúnitys, and efectiv cultùral partisipásion. Ménwhíl
thru-out Cornwall celebrásions wer held for Cornwalls pátron sánt, St Pyran,
and Grand Bard Rod Lyon ov the Cornish Gorseth, a cultùral organísásion, úsd
the ocázion tu spék out agenst the ongóing cultùral and politicl asimilásion
ov Cornwall by her larjer náber Ingland.
"On this grát da a host ov St Pyran flags hav bén proudly caryd thru the
stréts ov Trûró by dedicáted men and wimen hûs harts ar in Cornwal. Tha ar
pépl from aul wauks ov líf hu hav spent and ar spending a vast amount ov
thár fre tím tu ensúr the nám ov Cornwall and its heritej ar not asimiláted
intu larjer násions.
"In spít ov the Frámwerk Convension for the Protecsion ov Nasionl Mínoritys,
sínd by aul the májer pours in Europ, this próses ov asimilásion continús,
oftn (ofn) cóvertly. It is thés proud pépl ov Cornwal hu ar sacrifísing so
much tu hault this. Luking around hér tuda, I se meny ov them amung us.”
The tradisionl parád in Trûró wos wun ov meny events tu ták plás not just in
Cornwal but in Cornish comúnitys acros the werld in oner ov St Pyran.
(Eurolang)
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