I just finished reading this article in the Wall Street Journal regarding spelling reform, and I am flabbergasted! However, not for the reasons you may expect. My shock is not due to the fact that there are people in the world trying to change spelling, but because I have been well-acquainted with the spelling reform movement nearly all of my life, but never expected its efforts to make the front page of a national newspaper!
Let me explain. My dad is a member of The Spelling Society (formerly the Simplified Spelling Society). I remember one time he brought home a prototype version of The Wizard Of Oz written in simplified spelling for me to read. Though I understand the intentions behind it, to ask an 11-year-old bookworm to unlearn her understanding of her native language is quite a challenge. The Tin Woodman became the "Tin Wuudman" and the yellow brick road was a "yelo brik rode" instead. It was near impossible to remember to connect these foreign phrases to the meanings I knew they were supposed to represent. I read it stubbornly and judged it rather harshly, but the truth was that I got the story all the same.
Simplified spelling has been in my life for such a long time that it is difficult for me to take a stance on it. I love studying etymology, doing crossword puzzles, and writing or reading poetry that is as visually interesting as it is aurally. But plenty of intelligent people simply have a block against spelling rules. This doesn't make their thoughts any less valid, yet their intelligence is often questioned unfairly as a result.
I intended to make a post of substance regarding the issue of spelling, but if I'm going to be honest here, the real reason I got excited about this article is because it describes a world that I am a part of. My dad has been a protester at the national spelling bee, which I find hilarious and awesome. The article has a section (and a cool trademark Wall Street Journal ink pen face) about 102-year-old Ed Rondthaler and his house in New York State. Well, kids, call this my brush with fame, because I have eaten lunch at the Rondthaler house on a drive back from New York City with my dad. Mr. Rondthaler showed me a flashcard show about the inanity of English spelling--how "comb" should rhyme with "tomb" but "tomb" rhymes with "boom" and "comb" rhymes with "roam" and "home" instead. Other names mentioned in the print version of the article--Alan Mole, Joe Little are names that have appeared in our mailbox for years.
Maybe the reason I'm excited is because this little constant of my life that has always seemed pretty hopeless is at least being recognized. Spelling reformers face the fact that they are not likely to achieve the success they want, but stay determined in spite of it all.
Next up: my life with Esperanto, worm compost, carnivorous plants and historic canals. Ok, not really.
9 comments:
Fantastic. Tin Wuudman sounds like a porn name.
I'm pretty sure I would set fire to your house if this spelling reform ever passed.
it doesn't have to be radical changes, though, and its been happening gradually throughout history. Spelling evolves. Why do you think America changed "colour" to "color" and that "donut" is the accepted name for what used to be a "doughnut"? Things like that are the reasons I can't plant my foot firmly against spelling reform--I don't want to uproot it, but I don't mind it evolving.
also, if you burn down my house, i slit your throat.
Spelling changes that evolve naturally through usage are one thing, and the changes have been minor. A wholesale change like these spelling reformers are advocating is honestly, fascist. It takes away so much of the history and what is unique about the language. The best thing about English is that it's an insane hodgepodge of words from everywhere.
well, I only bring up the words I mention because the evolution of those particular words WERE the product of spelling revolution. If you talk to theses "fascist" spelling reformers, they're actually quite realistic about what they hope to achieve, which is gradual change.
You don't have to convince me that English is a beautiful buffet of cultures and languages, I even said that I am a huge fan of etymology. I do agree with the intentions behind reform though--to make English an easier language to learn and understand, especially for people learning it as a second language or people with dyslexia or related learning problems. I'm not saying we have to erase the entire history of English to make it a better language.
haha. Porn name.
i like this response better.
THE Joe Little checking in. Had not seen this post by u. Not sure which one YOU are: perhaps Hannah? A nice blog by the way...well played, well said. I too have eaten many suppers in the Rondthaler house which isn't the Rondthaler house anymore (since his passing, age 104). Sweet that u mentioned me and Mole: he pushed to get us at the Bee; i thought it was daft, but then i, too, lost my mind and bought into the Bee. Best thing i'v evr dun. Last one we did before they moved it out of downtownDC was th biggest evr, involvd BEEcostumes & was likely a factor in their exit to DC's burbs. Any observant person can see the change afoot, tho it is microscopic. I use stuff like u & i & thru everyday and, better stil, u see them growing in frequency which is the bottom line. In case u'r out there & correspondable, my email is spellingprogress@gmail.com. Peace,J
I see now. NOT Hannah. Paul. Peace,J
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