The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-01-04
Miss Dawson says


in Primary Reading teach these
words in connection with others, 9
having sound similar to short u and
e in the about the same sound.
Such pronunciation Of q and TIKI
is SO Objectionable to our ear and
taste that we would respectfully ask
Miss Dawson to reconsider what she
says. To us sucn pronunciation is
about as Objectionable as the fire.
quent sounding of oh after the prop
err sound of words, or reading in a
sing-song tone. The sound usually
given to a as a word is the sound of
a in care, rare, air, chair, which is
very different from the sound of u in
cur, run, ur, churn. And the sound
given to in thediffers from the sound
of e in bee, tree, about the same as a
in care differs from a in cake.
Notwithstanding the few excep-
tions, we consider Miss Davison's
article very able and valuable, and
again commend it to careful read
ing.
Reform in spelling Is very much needed
and generally acknowledged, but just how it
Is to be brought about Is not quite clear.
Phonetic spelling is right in principle and
WIN ultimately prevail in practice, but the
change is so great that but few are prepared
TO adopt it. A few mil ht adoptit bat they
would fail to carry it into practice; for pub
LEGATIONS for which they might write and
those with whom they might correspond
would object to 1t and they wsuld have to
ret urn to The present photography, or some
thing near IL. We made the trial Of writing
Phonetically twenty seven years ago and were
forced by circumstances to abandon 1t. And
tnere are but few more prepared to adopt
phonetic spelling now than there were then.
Aud the few prepared to adopt it would find
ii imurscticable to carry it into execution.
The International Centennial Spelling Re-
form Convention held at Philadelphia laid
out considerable work, but as yet il has done
little or nothing to introduce and establish
the reform. The Inter Ocean, in speaking
OF the convention, spoke tavorably Of
phonetic spelling and Of the work Of the
convention, and said it would not be long till
Webster's and Worcesters Dictionaries
wo aid cease 10 be authorities and would be
laid aside as useless. just how much of
caAdor and how much of irony there were in
what the Inter Ocean said We DO not know.
Believing in phonetic spelling and The
Decessity for spelling reform as much as the
Inter Gee an does, We believe it will be some
time before phonetic spelling becomes gen
laid aside as useless.
HoNscan the spelling reform he haaencd
The best way we can 'hpk Of is tor the
nter-Ocesn-or some paper Of qual clrcula-
the rule which requires ssGest to be spelled
saddost, and referred 10 be spelled. referred
and all other words Of ike forma ton. The
rulo, IS We have often eaid and sometimes
through the TELEGRAPH, is always better In
the breaking han in the keeping. A weli
known educator, who generally adherrs to
rules, furnished an article not long since in
which he spelled saddest with but one d aud
we printed 1t so. When we next SAW him
we cODgrEt ulated h IN on violating one of his
own rules, anu sa id We thought he intended
to do it or we should have printed 1t saddest
Another person, who sometimes writes foi
the TELEGRAPH, always spells the word re
feTred with but enc p rcteied Believing
that he does not know that authorities re
Quire tie 10 be doubled We have general,
doubled it IL printing his eommuniea tons
and have always haa some misglvings in do
I'nglso. Hereafter We shall probably prin
referred rs nc writes it.
Next, let the Inter can leave oat one O
the double IL. ttrs where but one is sounded
though it may generally be thought tina
both are. Take tor example such words a
barrel, sQuinei We have never heard an,
one but ourSelf sound hut one in either O
these words. People may think they sount
both but they do not. To convince them
selves that they do not. let them pronounce
the wards slowly and be sure TO sound
twice. and they viii soon be convinced tina
| they meyer sound it but once. Aud then lie
them trlil the first =, and then the second
and then both, and they will be satisfied t,
spell the words with bat one r. Who ever
sounds more than one M in grammar? O
one in banner? Let the Inter-O cean lea v,
out TIE superauoas letters in all such words
And next, let the Inter-O Ocean leave out al
letters generally acknowledged to be silent
| lniS Will make greater change than eIthe
OF the others--per haps greater than bo:b
But after the readers Of the Inter Oceal
a 4