History English-language spelling reform

1 history

1.1 16th , 17th centuries ad
1.2 19th century
1.3 20th century onward

history

modern english spelling developed ad 1350 onwards, when—after 3 centuries of norman french rule—english gradually became official language of england again, although different before 1066, having incorporated many words of french origin (battle, beef, button, etc.). writers of new english, such geoffrey chaucer, gave consistent spelling system, diluted chancery clerks, re-spelled words based on french orthography. english spelling consistency dealt further blow when william caxton brought printing press london in 1476. having lived in mainland europe preceding 30 years, grasp of english spelling system had become uncertain. belgian assistants brought him set business had poorer command of it.

as printing developed, printers began develop individual preferences or house styles . furthermore, typesetters paid line , fond of making words longer. however, biggest change in english spelling consistency occurred between 1525, when william tyndale first translated new testament, , 1539, when king henry viii legalized printing of english bibles in england. many editions of these bibles printed outside england people spoke little or no english. changed spellings match dutch orthography. examples include silent h in ghost (to match dutch gheest, later became geest), aghast, ghastly , gherkin. silent h in other words—such ghospel, ghossip , ghizzard—was later removed.

there have been 2 periods when spelling reform of english language has attracted particular interest.

16th , 17th centuries ad

the first of these periods middle of 16th middle of 17th centuries ad, when number of publications outlining proposals reform published. of these proposals were:

de recta et emendata linguæ angliæ scriptione (on rectified , amended written english language) in 1568 sir thomas smith, secretary of state edward vi , elizabeth i
an orthographie in 1569 john hart, chester herald
booke @ large amendment of english orthographie in 1580 william bullokar
logonomia anglica in 1621 dr. alexander gill, headmaster of st paul s school in london
english grammar in 1634 charles butler, vicar of wootton st lawrence

these proposals did not attract serious consideration because radical or based on insufficient understanding of phonology of english. however, more conservative proposals more successful. james howell in grammar of 1662 recommended minor changes spelling, such changing logique logic, warre war, sinne sin, toune town , tru true. many of these spellings in general use.

from 16th century ad onward, english writers scholars of greek , latin literature tried link english words graeco-latin counterparts. did adding silent letters make real or imagined links more obvious. det became debt (to link latin debitum), dout became doubt (to link latin dubitare), sissors became scissors , sithe became scythe (as wrongly thought come latin scindere), iland became island (as wrongly thought come latin insula), ake became ache (as wrongly thought come greek akhos), , forth.

william shakespeare satirized disparity between english spelling , pronunciation. in play love s labour s lost, character holofernes pedant insists pronunciation should change match spelling, rather changing spelling match pronunciation. example, holofernes insists should pronounce unhistorical b in words doubt , debt.

19th century

the second period started in 19th century , appears coincide development of phonetics science. in 1806, noah webster published first dictionary, compendious dictionary of english language. included essay on oddities of modern orthography , proposals reform. many of spellings used, such color , center, become hallmarks of american english. in 1807, webster began compiling expanded dictionary. published in 1828 american dictionary of english language. although drew protest, reformed spellings gradually adopted throughout united states.

in 1837, isaac pitman published system of phonetic shorthand, while in 1848 alexander john ellis published plea phonetic spelling. these proposals new phonetic alphabet. although unsuccessful, drew widespread interest.

by 1870s, philological societies of great britain , america chose consider matter. after international convention amendment of english orthography held in philadelphia in august 1876, societies founded such english spelling reform association , american spelling reform association. year, american philological society adopted list of eleven reformed spellings immediate use. these are→ar, give→giv, have→hav, live→liv, though→tho, through→thru, guard→gard, catalogue→catalog, (in)definite→(in)definit, wished→wisht. 1 major american newspaper began using reformed spellings chicago tribune, editor , owner, joseph medill, sat on council of spelling reform association. in 1883, american philological society , american philological association worked produce 24 spelling reform rules, published year. in 1898, american national education association adopted own list of 12 words used in writings: tho, altho, thoro, thorofare, thru, thruout, catalog, decalog, demagog, pedagog, prolog, program.

20th century onward

president theodore roosevelt criticized supporting simplified spelling campaign of andrew carnegie in 1906

the simplified spelling board founded in united states in 1906. ssb s original 30 members consisted of authors, professors , dictionary editors. andrew carnegie, founding member, supported ssb yearly bequests of more us$300,000. in april 1906, published list of 300 words, included 157 spellings in common use in american english. in august 1906, ssb word list adopted theodore roosevelt, ordered government printing office start using them immediately. however, in december 1906, u.s. congress passed resolution , old spellings reintroduced. nevertheless, of spellings survived , commonly used in american english today, such anaemia/anæmia→anemia , mould→mold. others such mixed→mixt , scythe→sithe did not survive. in 1920, ssb published handbook of simplified spelling, set forth on 25 spelling reform rules. handbook noted every reformed spelling in general use overt act of lone writer, followed @ first small minority. thus, encouraged people point way , set example using reformed spellings whenever could. however, main source of funds cut off, ssb disbanded later year.

in britain, cause of spelling reform promoted 1908 simplified spelling society , attracted number of prominent supporters. 1 of these george bernard shaw (author of pygmalion) , of considerable left cause. among members of society, conditions of gave rise major disagreements, hindered development of single new system.

between 1934 , 1975, chicago tribune, chicago s biggest newspaper, used number of reformed spellings. on two-month spell in 1934, introduced 80 respelled words, including tho, thru, thoro, agast, burocrat, frate, harth, herse, iland, rime, staf , telegraf. march 1934 editorial reported two-thirds of readers preferred reformed spellings. claimed prejudice , competition preventing dictionary makers listing such spellings. on next 40 years, however, newspaper gradually phased out respelled words. until 1950s, funk & wagnalls dictionaries listed many reformed spellings, including ssb s 300, alongside conventional spellings.

in 1949, labour mp, dr mont follick, introduced private member s bill in house of commons, failed @ second reading. in 1953, again had opportunity, , time passed second reading 65 votes 53. because of anticipated opposition house of lords, bill withdrawn after assurances minister of education research undertaken improving spelling education. in 1961, led james pitman s initial teaching alphabet, introduced many british schools in attempt improve child literacy. although succeeded in own terms, advantages lost when children transferred conventional spelling. after several decades, experiment discontinued.

in 1969 book spelling reform: new approach, australian linguist harry lindgren proposed step-by-step reform. first, spelling reform step 1 (sr1), called short /ɛ/ sound (as in bet) spelled <e> (for example friend→frend, head→hed). reform had popularity in australia.

in 2013, university of oxford professor of english simon horobin proposed variety in spelling acceptable. example, believes doesn t matter whether words such accommodate , tomorrow spelled double letters. note proposal doesn t fit within definition of spelling reform used by, example, random house dictionary.