New English

09/17/2004

Hello Everyone ! Sukravaaram Suprabhaath !

To deviate and divert from the usual run of scriptural topics dealt
with
in the recent Fri-Calls, this time I wish to give some excerpts from a book
authored by me and entitled " New English", which is but an attempt to
rationalize the many inconsistent spellings found in the English language.
Incidentally, I may mention here that the European Union had over two
years back,decided to adopt English as the link language for all its member
countries (after having adopted 'Euro' as the common currency). However
they realised that many English spellings are irrational, inconsistent and
confusing.They appointed a Special Committee for reforming such spellings.
Copies of my book "New English" dealing with the same objective, were
sent to the European Union authorities, for their information and use.

In this age of reason, everything is viewed from an angle of
rationalism,
reasoning and consistency. A systematic and scientific approach is preferred
to consider any situation. From this point of view, if one looks at
spellings of
English language today, it becomes evident that, in many situations, it is
tradition and convention that govern, rather than reason.
There is an interesting anecdote regarding English spellings. A
candidate
for job interview was faring rather badly. The interviewer got vexed,and
said
to the candidate that he would be offered the job if atleast he answered
the one last question currently. Spell the word 'Coffee'. The candidate
thought for a while, and blurted out 'Kaughy' ! Not even a single letter
correct, and yet not a bad spelling after all, considering the similar
sounding
word 'Laugh' !
The main drawback in English language is that there are too few vowels
compared to most of Indian languages. In use of consonants also, there is
often no consistency. There are many cases of (i) words similarly spelt but
differently pronounced, and also (ii) words differently spelt but similarly
pronounced. All this leads to confusion, especially in the young mind. For
example, if a child were to ask the parent "Why the word 'but' is pronounced
one way, whereas another similarly spelt word 'put' is pronounced
differently?"
Or why 'Sunday has a 'u' in its 'Sun' whereas 'Monday' has a 'o' in its
'Mon'
though pronounced alike ? Why 'psychology' and 'pneumonia' begin with 'p'
which is not pronounced at all ? For all such queries there is no answer
except
that it is so by convention and usage. If the child were to ask why not
'cough'
be spelt as 'kaaf', the same answer. When there is a word 'shun' why there
is
'tion' in 'attention'? Again, take examples of following words spelled
differently
but pronounced similarly. 'for, fir, fur' or 'door, pour, more, soar'.
Answer is:
Convention. Just follow it. This dampens the scientific temper of the young
mind, and dilutes its attitude towards logic and reasoning. Should there not
be
any attempt to improve this situation?
In 'New English' a humble attempt is made to bring about better
conformity
between the spoken and the written words. In doing this, the spoken word is
taken for granted with its pronunciation. Only the written word i.e.,
spelling is
made to conform to the pronunciation. A detailed study has been made, and a
framework of Rules proposed , using which there is a fair chance of making
no
spelling mistakes. Further, this was done without introduction of any new
alphabets or signs, so that the present keyboard of a typewriter or computer
would suffice to write the new spellings. A detailed Glossary is given
inclusive of
all words needing transformation.
When spellings are rational and based on logical principles, they
become
predictable, as the aspect of unjustifiable convention is eliminated.
Possibilities of
making spelling mistakes are much reduced, because the inconsistencies and
ambiguities, silent alphabets, and confusing use of letters in spellings,
are being
attempted to be set right. It may also be noted that even if someone does
not
quite accept the revised words based on a certain pronunciation, for
whatever
reason it be including regional differences, the principles enunciated in
'New
English' can still be used to spell the word to conform to whatever way the
word is needed to be pronounced.

Some interesting transformations in spellings are given below, to give
some
glimpses of the suggested changes in 'New English' :

accent = aksent accrue = akroo action =
akshun
align = alyne become = bikum blue =
bloo
bread = bred busy = bizee candle =
kandil
close = kloaz bright = bryte circus
= surkus
blood = blud car = kaar clock
= klaak
cough = kaaf eight = ait jealous
= jelus
come = kum cynic = sinik fight
= fyte
friend = frend germ = jurm knife
= nyfe
liquid = likwid knock = naak phone
= foan
know = noe often = aafen psychic =
sykik
rough = ruff sanction = sankshun should =
shud
succeed= sukseed through = throo quick =
kwik
sigh = sy said = sed
subtle = sutil
touch = tuch walk = waak whole
= hoal
vicious = vishus whom = hoom write
= ryte
wealth = welth wrong = raang zone
= zoan

Even if it takes a ten or twenty, nay even fifty years before the above
rationalised spellings are officially accepted and implemented, even if it
be in only some parts of the world, still, it is worth it. I have every hope that
one day or other, they would come into common usage, for, it is the Law of
Nature that anything by way of blind custom and tradition, that is incorrect
and irrational, cannot prevail for ever indefinitely, and that, common sense
and reason shall have to ultimately prevail.