No, no, no

7 Aug 2008 10:00 pm
karohemd: by LJ user gothindulgence (Balthasar)
[personal profile] karohemd
and no.

I'm all up for simplifying spelling (good examples of spelling reforms: Norwegian, Danish and Dutch, bad example: German) but allowing variations only leads to even more confusion.

Date: 8/8/08 03:16 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] karohemd.livejournal.com
From a purely linguistic point of view, I agree entirely. Eliminating spelling variations eliminates etymology but that's not the issue here. We're talking about finding away to make spelling as easy as possible and that - in theory - only works if you can come up with clear-cut und unique rules for how sounds are reproduced in text.
Unfortunately, English is basically unsuitable for this, your example of "Right, write, rite and wright" is a very good one. It also supports my argument (and the point of this post) that you should avoid introducing even more variations.


Date: 8/8/08 03:42 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mr-malk.livejournal.com
Yes, I agree entirely with your central point, i.e. the reason you made the initial post, I suspect that anyone who knows me could have confidently predicted that I would! As for phonetic spelling, I concur, English is basically unsuitable for it (which doesn't stop some well-meaning but (IMO) misguided people from advocating it, as in this case.

To my mind, people who think like that should go and learn Esperanto, and leave real languages to people that can cope with them!

Date: 8/8/08 03:44 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] karohemd.livejournal.com
Harsh, but fair. :o)

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