Spelling

Spelling, the art of correctly writing words, has of late become the cause of much controversy. English seems to be the only language that presents the great anomaly of possessing a spelling that in many cases affords no clue to the sound of the word represented. Accordingly many have advocated the introdnction of phonetic spelling, in which the sound of the word should be exactly represented, and point out that this system is to some extent adopted in shorthand. To tbis proposal it is objected, (1) that no logical system of phonetic spelling has yet been adopted, and (2) that such spelling would often destroy the history of a word. Against this it is urged that sound is the best clue to derivation, and that our present system obscures, rather than reveals, derivation. On the whole, it seems a question of aesthetics. Phonetic spelling has an uncouth appearance.