They do not make any use of the relationship of the written to the spoken language, and so it does not matter whether spelling represents speech in any way, whether 'photographic' or conventionalised. A further page will look at the evidence about the needs and abilities of readers and learners, to show that nature of the spelling is relevant indeed. Another page is about at the brass tacks of spelling design for the English language - on research and development that should be taken for granted for this basic tool for our modern comunications technology. Experiments and studies investigate one issue that appears clear from the preceding chapters - the superfluous letters in English spelling that might perhaps be better omitted. This leads into a close look at the problems of research in English spelling design and what needs to be done.
Research is a country of high grounds and swamps .
In the swampy ground are all those messy confusing problems that defy technical solution. In this swamp lie the problems of greatest human concern. Researchers must choose - to solve relatively unimportant problems in unimpeachably rigorous and elegant ways, or to descend into the swamp, where important problems can only be tackled with less rigorous methods, and there is the likelihood of mud on your nose. This book describes research in the boggy swamps where the problem of universal literacy still flounders - but there is also enough research in safer areas on the high ground that can be used to throw down ropes. Selection to illustrate theories and evidence has had to be drastic in some places, with inevitable omissions, but those interested will find there is a vast literature on reading and its cognitive processes that they may consult.