LL-L "Orthography" 2004.06.03 (02) [E]

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L O W L A N D S - L * 03.JUN.2004 (02) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Orthography

Dear Lowlanders,

Below please find a copy of a newspaper article (_Seattle Times_, June 3,
2004, p. A11) about a topic we have discussed and revisited many times: the
rather controversial and polarizing issue of orthographic reform for
English.

Mentioned are two types of attitudes: (1) total dismissal and ridicule, and
(2) calls for reform backed by the claim that the irregular English spelling
"method" (by and large based on certain English dialects of 15th and 16th
century England) is a serious obstacle for education and functional
literacy.  Not mentioned is that this problem (if recognized as such) is
magnified by virtue of the fact that English now is or soon will be *the*
universal auxiliary language, a worldwide lingua franca that in the future
will be used by pretty much everyone on Earth as a first language or as a
foreign language.  So, the claim can be made that English spelling is a
serious obstacle in this regard as well, that "Reform? Yes or No?" is no
longer just an internal matter for native English speakers to handle, or, to
put it differently, English speakers ought to feel obligated to consider
non-native speakers when discussing the spelling of their language.

For those of you who do not already know this, let me explain that a
"spelling bee" is a spelling competition, usually held among primary and
secondary school students in English-speaking countries.  Contestants are
orally given words (and clues, if requested) and must spell them out
correctly.  This may sound somewhat funny to many of you whose languages use
fairly regular, predictable spelling, in which case "spelling bees" would be
rather unexciting events, especially if you take languages with near
exemplary, phonemically-based spelling systems, such as Finnish, Estonian,
Hungarian or Basque.  Well, you can probably imagine that a "spelling bee"
is a lot more interesting if you remember that in the case of English (as
also in the cases of Tibetan and Mongolian) spelling is more historically
and etymologically based than phonemically based, and that therefore the
spelling of every single word in the language (rather than just a set of
rules) must be memorized, that the contestants thus can show off just how
many "weird" and unusual words they can spell.

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

***

SPELLING-BEE PROTESTERS 'THRU WITH THROUGH'

English's lack of logic spells trouble/or many, demonstrators say

Gannett News Service and The Associated Pres

WASHINGTON — Protesters delivered a message yesterday to the national
spelling bee: Enuf is enuf!

Members of the American Literacy Society picketed the 77th annual spelling
bee, which is sponsored every year by Cincinnati-based Scripps Howard.

The protesters' complaints: English spelling is illogical, and the national
spelling bee only reinforces the crazy spellings that they say contribute to
dyslexia, high illiteracy and harder lives for immigrants.

"We advocate the modernization of English spelling,' said Pete Boardman, 58,
of Groton, N.Y. The Cornell University bus driver admitted to being a
terrible speller.

Protester Elizabeth Kuizenga, 56, is such a good speller that she teaches
English as a second language in San Francisco. She said she got involved in
the protest after seeing how much time was wasted teaching spelling in her
class.

Bee spokesman Mark Kroeger said good spelling comes from knowing the story
behind a word — what language it comes from, what it means.

"For these kids who understand the root words, who understand the etymology,
ifs totally logical," he said.

The protesters contend that the illogical spelling of English words makes
dyslexia more difficult to overcome and helps explain studies that suggest
one in five Americans are functionally illiterate.

"If these people were able to read and write with a simplified spelling
system, they would be able to fill out a job application, stay employed and
stay out of prison,' said Sanford Silverman, 86. The retired accountant was
handing out copies of his book, "Spelling for the 21st Century: The Case for
Spelling Reform."

Carrying signs reading "I'm thru with through," "Spelling shuud be lojical,"
and "Spell different difrent," the protesters drew chuckles from bee
contestants.

"I can't believe people are picketing against something this ridiculous,"
said contestant Steven Maheshwary, 14, of Houston.

By day's end yesterday, 46 of the original 265 spellers remained for today's
championship. The participants are competing for a top package of $17,000 in
cash and other prizes.

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