Earliest Reference to "Ghoti"

[Benjamin Zimmer]

On 12/13/06, Benjamin Zimmer <bgzimmer at babel.ling.upenn.edu> wrote:
>
> CSM has "ti" as in "nation" -- also note the reference to a
> "foreigner" -- which might bring it in line with that later cite about
> the "stage-Frenchmen" (i.e., it was intended to satirize the
> difficulties of foreigners learning irrational English spelling).
>
>         In Lighter Vein
>         Christian Science Monitor, Aug 27, 1938, p. 17
>         A foreigner who insisted that "fish" should be spelled
>         "ghoti" explained it in this fashion: "Gh" is pronounced
>         as in "rough," the "o" as in "women," and the "ti" as in
>         "nation" -- so maybe he's right.

Further evidence that it was originally foreigner humor:

         Oakland Tribune, May 11, 1938, p. 28/3
         A visitor from Eastern Europe has been making merry
         with English spelling. One of his suggestions is that
         "fish" ought to be spelled "ghoti." He argues that the
         "gh" is pronounced as in "rough," the o" as in "women,"
         and the "ti" as in "nation." So obviously "ghoti" spells
         "fish." --Exchange.


--Ben Zimmer

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