Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-04-23
a Spelling Reform.

The idea of a reform in English orthogra-
ply is by no means a new one, and many
are the improvements which have been sug-
gested, and the systems of writing invented,
with a view to correct abbreviate and sim
pity the existing forms of words and letters
which occur in our written language Hith-
erto these efforts have been of little practical
avail, for the reason that they lacked author
itative support, either from the government
or from those leading literary men Of the
time without whose cooperation and support
success was impossible. The arguments which
have been advanced in opposition to any
change in the established methods of writing
and spelling appear, however, to be gradu-
ally yielding to the progressive tendencies of
the age. 1t is seen that if, as now appears
probable, the English language is in the fu.
ture to become the universal language of
mankind, the obligation rests upon the Eng
fish speaking nations of to-day to remedy its
defects and inconsistencies, and reduce it to
scientific accuracy and simplicity which
shall adapt it to the worlds needs, and rem
der the task of its requirement and uae by
people of other nations and Of future ages
less onerous and difficult than now, when the
time required even for its imperfect acquisi-
ton by our own children in our own schools
is at least rs great as that devoted to all 9th
er branches of study combined.
1t is in this spirit that many of the pro-
gressiye and scientific men, both of Great
Britain and America, are at length showing a
disposition to unite in an earnest endeavor
to introduce a reform. Ii is seen that the
one all-essential requirement of a written Ian
guage is that it be a correct representation of
the spoken language. The iden so strongly
insisted upon by many philologists, that
words should embody and preserve their
chronological Specification, is seen to be of lit
tie practical consequence, and is far out
weighed by considerations of utility, accu-
racy and economy of time and labor.
Unquestionably the phonetic method is the
correct one, and the one which, in some
form, will ultimately be adopted. Thus far
however, none of the various phonetic sys-
tens devised has succeeded in winning popu-
larity for the reason, mainly TINT even where
the common Roman characters are retained
many words are so transformed in appear
unce that, instead of becoming easier and
more readily pronounced by the average
reader, they are obscured by their very sim
plicity and strangeness This objection, of
course has no weight except as applied to
individuals habtuated to the present modes of
writing and spelling but, since the writer's
of the day naturally desire TO clothe their
thoughts in the language which to their
readers is most ineligible, they are not dis
posed to take the initiative in a step so radi-
cal as that involved i'll the proposed change
Since, therefore, there is no prospect of
the adoption of pure phonetic method at
single stride the advocates Of reform are
now endeayoring to inaugurate a gradual
movement, looking to the same end. This
movement is favored by many of the
foremost philolcgsts, educators and literary
men of the day, including Prof Max Muller,
DIR. Angus, Matthew Arnold and Sir Charles
Bel of England, Professors Whitney. Louus-
bury and Trumbull of Yale College, Prof
Child Of Harvard University, Prof Halde-
mann Of the University of PENNSYLVANIA,
Prof March Of Lafayette College, and others.
Spelling Reform Association was organ
4Hth AZ ulluhtllulh uuIluR the Ntultuulhl,
whose work, in conjunction with that of the
American Pathological Association, is made
the basis of an interesting article in the Jan
uary number of the Princeton Review
committee Of the Pathological Association, in
1876, in presenting the subject, gave the
opinion that the Roman alphabet is so
widely and firmly established in use among
the la1HiDu pivili y.H no tlati ~,
displaced, and in 1877 al additional report
was made by the committee in which they
presented a Roman alphabet for English use
The Association have promulgated for pres
ent adoption the following rules
/. Omit from the dgraf "a when pro-
nounst as short, as in he'd helth, etc.
>. Omit silent e4lfter short vowel, as in
hay, Civ defnit, infnit forbad etc.
3. Write + for phi in such words as alfabet,
fantom, cantor, tilosofy, telegraf, etc.
I. When q word ends with double letter,
omit the last, as in shall, vii, cliff eg, etc.
=. Change I'd to where it has the sound
of {, as in lasht, imprest, f1t, etc
Already some 200 newspapers in all parts
of the country have adopted, in whole or in
part, the modified spelling, and are trying to
prepare the minds of readers for still fur
ther change. The Pathological Association,
it is understood have petitioned Congress to
move for joint commission of the English
speaking races to act upon the proposed
changes. Should these or any other similar
rules be adopted and recommended by an in
ternational congress. the movement will have
gained an impetus and authority which will
go far toward making it the success it ought
TO be.