War Of The Words – Wor Uv The Wvrdz

Zefur Contents

Zefur In Parallel Text 

 

Traditional spelling = TS

Traditional Spelling	Zefur
Those who can read are getting much more of a share of the ‘good life’ than those who have mild to severe problems with reading. It’s not just a matter of hard work. Part of our population is abusing another part—just because they can. In some/most? cases, not intentionally. They just happen to have been born into favorable conditions.	Thoez hoo can reed ar geting mvch mor uv a sher uv the ‘gwd lief’ than thoez hoo hav mield to suvir problumz with reeding. It’s not jvst a matur uv hard wvrk. Part uv our popyulaeshun iz ubuezing unvthur part—jvst bicauz thae can. In svm/moest? caesuz, not intenchunuly. Thae jvst hapun to hav bin born into faevurubul cundishunz.
Our spelling system plays a huge part in keeping this imbalance in place. It is very hard to learn. It doesn’t have to be, but we will have to intentionally work at establishing an easy to learn spelling system. Many other countries have done this by using  spelling systems that closely follow the alphabetic principle—letters/symbols accurately represent pronunciations—so that a word is easily recognized by a new reader; bat, weird – bat, wird.	Our speling sistum plaez a huej part in keeping this imbaluns in plaes. It iz very hard to lvrn. It dvzn’t hav to be, bvt we wil hav to intenchunuly wvrk at establishing an eezy to lvrn speling sistum. Meny vthur cvntryz hav dvn this by uezing speling sistumz that cloesly foloe the alfubetic prinsupul-leturz/simbulz acyurutly repruzent prununseaeshunz—so that a wvrd iz eezuly recugniezd by a noo reedur; bat, weird – bat, wird.
The illiterate are pretty much powerless to help themselves. It is up to the rest of us to right the wrongs regarding literacy. Our ANCESTORS have let US down. What are WE going to do?	The iliturut ar prity mvch pourlus to help themselvz. It iz vp to the rest uv vs to riet the rongz rigarding liturusy. Our ANSESTURZ hav let VS doun. Whot ar WE going to do?

 

Many words have multiple definitions—even in an alphabetic system. They  prove that the mind can deal with a lot of ambiguity, so it is not necessary to have a strictly alphabetic spelling system in order to be easily understood. Context helps a lot on determining which of the several definitions fit. We can accept some TS features to keep some familiarity even though they are not alphabetic. The th that has two pronunciations; this/thin. The k sound that can also be spelled with c if it has the support of rules; cat, act, arsenic,  kit, monkey, bank, bak. Ng with two pronunciations; ng and ngg as in ‘singer’ and ‘finger’.

Meny wvrdz hav mvltupul defunishunz—eevun in an alfubetic sistum. Thae proov that the miend can deel with a lot uv ambuguuty, so it iz not nesusery to hav a strictly alfubetic speling sistum in ordur to be eezuly undurstwd. Contecst helps a lot on ditvrmuning which uv  the sevurul defunishunz fit. We can acsept svm TS feechurz to keep svm fumile.eruty eevun thoe thae ar not alfubetic. The th that haz two prununseaeshunz; this/thin. The k sound that can aulso be speld with c if it haz the suport uv roolz; cat, act, arsunic, kit, mvnky, bank, bak. Ng with two prununseaeshunz; ng and ngg az in ‘singer’ and ‘finger’.

Present English spelling is so irregular that the alphabetic principle is useless in TS; eat/threat, silly/city, zoo/was, weight/height.

Prezunt Inglish speling iz so iregyulur that the alfubetic prinsupul iz ueslus in TS; eat/threat, weight/height.

 

Strictly alphabetical spelling has its problems. The spelling has an accent which will be different from speaking accents. It looks a lot different from traditional spelling. Our alphabet has only 26 letters, yet TS has at least 40 sounds. There are ways to adjust to this problem—mostly. Many words are pronounced more than one way; missile | \ ˈmi-səl  , chiefly British -ˌsīl  \, usu​al | \ ˈyü-zhə-wəl  , -zhəl; ˈyüzh-wəl\. A choice has to be made as to which option will be used in the new notation. Stress marking is limited, though it can be marked sometimes without harming appearance too much. In the new notation featured here—Zefur—about 90% of primary stress can be recognized by its spelling—supported by rules. Agree/ugree, incur/incvr, baby/baeby, resell/rysel.

Strictly alfubeticul speling haz its problumz. ·       The speling haz an acsent which wil be difurunt frvm speeking acsents. ·       It lwks a lot difurunt frvm trudishunul speling. ·       Our alfubet haz oenly 26 leturz, yet TS haz at leest 40 soundz. Ther ar waez to ujvst to this problum—moestly. ·       Meny wvrdz ar prunounsd mor than wvn wae; missile | \ ˈmi-səl  , cheefly British –ˌsīl  \, usu​al | \ ˈyü-zhə-wəl  , -zhəl; ˈyüzh-wəl\. A chois haz to be maed az to which opshun wil be uezd in the noo noetaeshun. ·       Stres marking iz limutud, thoe it can be markd svmtiemz without harming upiruns too mvch. In the noo noetaeshun feechurd hir—Zefur—ubout 90% uv priemery stres can be recugniezd by its speling—suportud by roolz. Agree/ugree, incur/incvr, baby/baeby, resell/rysel.

 

New readers and others, who have trouble reading and spelling, can quickly learn a spelling system that is closely based on the alphabetic principle. Such a notation can be used with parallel text to help teach TS. English : Spanish, English : Inglish.	Noo reedurz and vthurz, hoo hav trvbul reeding and speling, can cwikly lvrn a speling sistum that iz cloesly baesd on the alfubetic prinsupul. Svch a noetaeshun can be uezd with parrulel tecst to help teech TS. English : Spanish, English : Inglish.
In TS, pronunciation of letters and symbols is highly unpredictable.	In TS, prununseaeshun uv leturz and simbulz iz hiely unpridictubul.
In TS, spelling of many words has to be memorized because their spelling  can’t otherwise be predicted.	In TS, speling uv meny wvrdz haz to be memuriezd bicauz their speling can’t vthurwiez be pridictud.
There are 15 or more ways to spell the vowel sound in ‘lake’, depending on who’s counting.	Ther ar 15 or mor waez to spel the voul sound in ‘lake’, depending on hoo’z counting.
In a new notation this can be fixed.	In a noo noetaeshun this can be ficst.
A tremendous amount of effort and money is spent to do a better job of teaching TS. None? to fix the spelling system. Is there an elephant in the room?	A trimendus umount uv efurt and mvny iz spent to do a betur job uv teeching TS. Nvn? to fics the speling sistum. Iz ther an elufunt in the room?
People object to any tampering with their spelling system.	Peepul ubject to eny tampuring with their speling sistum.

 

Two thirds of adult English speekers can already read TS and almost all English text is spelled in TS. They have no need to learn a new notation, therefore they lack incentive to solve the problem. They are the ones who will have to provide a new spelling system. It seems to matter little that millions of lives are trashed because of illiteracy.	Two thvrdz uv udvlt Inglish speekurz can aulredy reed TS and aulmoest aul Inglish tecst iz speld in TS. Thae hav no need to lvrn a noo noetaeshun, therfoer thae lak insentiv to saulv the problum. Thae ar the wvnz hoo wil hav to pruvied a noo speling sistum. It seemz to matur litul that milyunz uv lievz ar trashd bicauz uv iliturusy.
Because of the irregularities of English spelling, 20-30% of English speeking adults are mildly to severely illiterate.	Bicauz uv the iregyularrultyz uv Inglish speling, 20-30% uv Inglish speeking udvlts ar mieldly to suvirly iliturut.
Those who will benefit most from a new spelling system can’t read and are not in a position to influence the decisions that are necessary in order to make meaningful changes.	Thoez hoo wil benufit moest frvm a noo speling sistum can’t reed and ar not in a puzishun to infloo.uns the disizhunz that ar nesusery in ordur to maek meeningful chaenjuz.
There are few places where ‘creative spelling’ is welcome.	Ther ar fue plaesuz wher ‘creaetiv speling’ iz welcum.
It will be a slow start to get a better spelling system accepted.	It wil be a sloe start to get a betur speling sistum acseptud.

 

Personal and regional accents affect how we pronounce a word but they need not dictate spelling. Just notice how you pronounce words. You sometimes pronounce a word differently, depending on your environment. You have to learn the spelling/pronunciation accent in a mostly alphabetic notation, but reading is easy, which helps us to learn the spelling accent.	Pvrsunul and reejunul acsents ufect hou we prunouns a wvrd bvt thae need not dictaet speling. Jvst noetus hou yoo prunouns wvrds. Yoo svmtiemz prunouns a wvrd difuruntly, dipending on yor enviernmunt. Yoo hav to lvrn the speling/prununseaeshun acsent in a moestly alfubetic noetaeshun, bvt reeding iz eezy, which helps vs to lvrn the speling acsent.
It may be a long time before a spelling standard is available for a new notation. In the meantime we can accept some variable spellings for some words. Most words in a new notation will be relatively trouble-free.	It mae be a long tiem bifoer a speling standurd iz uvaelubul for a noo noetaeshun. In the meentiem we can acsept svm vereubul spelingz for svm wvrdz. Moest wvrdz in a noo noetaeshun wil be relutivly trvbul-free.
We can understand most English speakers’ speech even though their accent is not our own.	We can undurstand moest Inglish speekurs’ speech eevun thoe their acsent iz not our oen.
Since everyone will learn the same spelling acsent, we can use it whenever clarification is needed.	Sins evrywun wil lvrn the saem speling acsent, we can uez it wheneur clarruficaeshun iz needud.
Some irregularities in TS may be useful. Compare the th in moth(dh)er and moth; the ng in singer and fing(g)er.	Svm iregyularrutyz in TS mae be uesful. Cumper the th in mvth(dh)ur and moth; the ng in singur and fing(g)ur.
Rules can easily be made to spell c and k for the same sound as is done in TS. C would never be spelled for the s sound; sity.	Roolz can eezuly be maed to spel c and k for the saem sound az iz dvn in TS. C wwd nevur be speld for the s sound; sity.
Even x could be kept in some words to keep more of a TS appearance, but other words will look less like TS; accent, access.	Eevun x cwd be kept in svm wvrdz to keep mor uv a TS upiruns, bvt vthur wvrdz wil lwk les liek TS; axent, axes.

 

Some spelling reformers think that since homophones are not distinguished in speech, they need not be used in text, but text offers more wiggle room and homophones help clarify meaning in text. Compare; to/too/two with too/too/too. Inn with in.  Four and fore with for. Oar and ore with or, etc.	Svm speling riformurz think that sins homufoenz ar not distingwishd in speech, thae need not be uezd in tecst, bvt tecst ofurz mor wigul room and homufoenz help clarrufie meening in tecst. Cumper; to/too/two with too/too/too. Inn with in.  Four and fore with for. Oar and ore with or, etc.
Text is interpreted through the eye.	Tecst iz intvrprutud throo the ie.
Speech is interpreted through the ear AND the eye; body language—not text.	Speech iz intvrprutud throo the ir AND the ie; body langwij—not tecst.
There are few who can write, in an alternate notation, other than their  designers. Who will write text for magazines, books, newspapers and the Internet?	Ther ar fue hoo can write, in an aulturnut noetaeshun, vthur than their dizienurz. Hoo wil write tecst for maguzynz, bwks, noozpaepurz and the Inturnet?
With the Internet, almost anyone can set up a blog or website that features a new spelling system. There are already some sites that feature new spelling systems. This won’t help the illiterate much since they won’t be reading the Internet. But it can help get the ball rolling.	With the Inturnet, aulmoest enywun can set vp a blog or websiet that feechurz a noo speling sistum. Ther ar aulredy svm siets that feechur noo speling sistumz. This woent help the iliturut mvch sins thae woent be reeding the Inturnet. Bvt it can help get the baul roeling.
Publishers will have little insentive to use or promote a new notation.	Pvblishurz wil hav litul insentiv to uez or prumoet a noo noetaeshun.

 

It is difficult to ‘get the ear’ of a publisher to promote a new line of publications.	It iz dificult to ‘get the ir’ uv a pvblishur to prumoet a noo lien uv publicaeshunz.
An easy to learn spelling system can be used to help teach TS, while, at the same time, introduce the public to text that is easy to read.	An eezy to lvrn speling sistum can be uezd to help teech TS, whiel, at the saem tiem, intrudoos the pvblic to tecst that iz eezy to reed.
With a user-friendly spelling system, the multitude of problems created by illiteracy will disappear.	With a uezur-frendly speling sistum, the mvltutood uv problumz creaetud by iliturusy wil disupir.
Even though English has a very large number of words, we don’t need to learn many words in a standard dictionary in order to master most words found in common text.	Eevun thoe Inglish haz a very larj nvmbur uv wvrdz, we doent need to lvrn meny wvrdz in a standurd dicshunery in ordur to mastur moest wvrdz found in comun tecst.
The problems created by illiteracy are great. Much greater than can be explained here. The Internet has much to say about this.	The problumz creaetud by iliturusy ar graet. Mvch graetur than can be ecsplaend hir. The Inturnet haz mvch to sae ubout this.
How can we promote a new spelling system in an unofficial manner?	Hou can we prumoet a noo speling sistum in an unufishul manur?
Inform publishers how a new notation works, and its potential world-wide. The Chinese are now using Pinyin—a romanized notation—to help teach Mandarin. We can do something like this with English.	Inform pvblishurz hou a noo noetaeshun wvrks, and its putenchul wvruld-wied. The Chieneez ar nou uezing Pinyin—a roemuniezd noetaeshun—to help teech Mandurun. We can do svmthing like this with Inglish.

 

Use parallel text readers that feature both TS and a new notation. This will help teach TS, in or out of the classroom, while also teaching the new notation, so future generations will not find its appearance so objectionable.	Uez parrulel tecst reedurz that feechur boeth TS and a noo noetaeshun. This wil help teech TS, in or out uv the clasroom, whiel aulsoe teeching the noo noetaeshun, so fuechur jenuraeshunz wil not fiend its upiruns so ubjechunubul.
Promote publications that feature such parallel text to help non-English speakers in their efforts to learn the English language and spelling.	Prumoet publicaeshunz that feechur svch parrulel tecst to help non-Inglish speekurz in their efurts to lvrn the Inglish langwij and speling.
Print comic books with parallel text on facing pages using English with a new notation. [I learned a lot of reading with comic books. My fourth grade teacher was impressed that I could spell ghost and dachshund. I have forgotten how to spell dachshund. I now pronounce the word docsund. I probably pronounced it the same when I was 11 years old, but I still knew how to spell it.]	Print comic bwks with parrulel tecst on faesing paejuz uezing Inglish with a noo noetaeshun. [I lvrnd a lot uv reeding with comic bwks. Mie faurth graed teechur wvz impresd that I cwd spel ghost and dachshund. I hav forgotun hou to spel dachshund. I nou prunouns the wvrd docsund. I probubly prunounsd it the saem when I wvz 11 yirz oeld, bvt I stil knoo hou to spel it.]
Print individual comics with the new notation printed above.	Print induviduul comics with the noo noetaeshun printud ubuvv.

 

Put blogs and websites, that feature a new notation, on the Internet.	Pwt blogz and websiets, that feechur a noo noetaeshun, on the Inturnet.
No doubt there are many more ways that a new notation can be promoted.	No dout ther ar meny mor waez that a noo noetaeshun can be prumoetud.
Join the fight on the side of the neglected underdog. Support efforts to establish a user-friendly spelling system.	Join the fiet on the sied uv the niglectud vndurdog. Suport efurts to establish a uezur-frendly speling sistum.
See samples of Zefur—mostly based on the alphabetic principle. https://paulstought.wordpress.com/ The Mentur Spelling System

 

The English Spelling Society – TESS, is now in the process of choosing a new spelling system to promote. http://spellingsociety.org/ http://spellingsociety.org/personal-views – More spelling systems.