The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-08-28
SDelilp. Reform.

EDITOR NATtDSAL TRIBUNE: We hear
much spoken about reform ia these days. We
surely live in a progressive age But while the
world Is improving 80 rapidly, It seems that the
source Of ali intelligence should be more ia
accord with the needs OF the times.
Our English language is one Of the most
euphOnjous anywhere. The poet sings deli -bt-
fully. and the prose writer finds lavish store
Of appropriate words With which % express lis
thoughts. But before its beauties en- be truly
appreciated the pupil must pass through tie
Iltricacies Of speiiiHg-a herculean task for
many, a pleasure for none.
But The question Is often asked, Why not
make spelling more easy ga question more
easily asked than answered. This introduces
the subject
Spoken words consist Of sounds; written
words Of characters that represent sounds.
There should be oneness between the sounds
It's the spoken word and the characters IN the
written word. To secure this there must DC
distinct character Tor each sound IN the lau-
guage. Each soand must have but one char
acter, and each character but one sound. This
is true phonetic spelling.
Without making fine distinctions OF splitting
hairs, il viii readily appear that there are -
cOnsOnaat sounds, y vowel sounds. and four
diphthOug souuds-nO more, no less. This
gives = purely distinct sounds, which require
8 letters 10 represent them properly.
Having but % letters to represent IS sounds,
il viii appear that some letters must DO extra
service, thereby causing confusion and uuceT-
taiuty IN spelling. And by giving different
sounds to q letter. besides wedgiHg IN silent
letters, there IS little wonder that chaos reigus,
and the MANTLE mind IS perplexed beyond
measure. To illustrate: A has at least four
sounds, similar burden being imposed upon
the rest Of the vowel letters, SO called Part Of
the COuSOuants have more than ore sound.
Such letters as q. K, ], NJ, have only one
sound, and when they are once thoroughly
learned no difficulty arises as 20 the sounds
they represent. for they are always the same.
Then 10 make spelling correct and phonetic
let there be rs many letters as sounds, no letter
with more than one sound and no sound with
more than one letter. This IS in brief. an
explanation OF correct phonetic spelling which
should be the standard system.
But the NEST formidable question that con.
fronts US, is not what correct photography Is
but what is the quickest and best way 70 securt
it.
Some are in favor Of a gradual transition
from the old 20 tAe new, and perhaps this iH
time would accomplish the desired result, but
a radical change Is 5es, for several reasons.
By the gradual change the pupil Of to-day
who learns certain orthography VIII. IN
future years BE repeatedly called upoU 90 uu.
learn certain modes Of spelling which he wal
Taught to be correct when pupil. ll IS both
unpleasant ami improbable 10 unlearn any
thing
Let a conference be constituted. composed Ot
the most thorough scholars Of the country, Sc
lec,ed with special reference % ibis subj ect who
shall after mature deaberatl1u, determine what
photography is and sba!. be- Now for the next
step.
Begin in the primary grades Of the public
and private schools and teach the new method
and nothing else and as lliS grade advances
year after year So continue. Ey aud by they
viii guit school and fad themselves In a world
that rejpiccs in the possession of language
beauyi5ed aud made simple by "a sensible orthos-
raphy
1t the same time tf-is method is introduced
into the schools LEI every newspaper, Journal
and periodical in the land publish an eNpiau1-
tiou Of the system with one column 90 readable
matter with every Issue for the arsI year, Two
columns for the second year. three columns for
the third year, aud So on Tor 40 least = years,
aiterwhich time the entire issue 90 be print d
ON the new method entire likewise every other
publication OF any and every kind whatsoever;
these provisions as above 20 be provided TOR by
"a laW radically enforced.
Ey the time JhaJ als publications were print
ed entire Us provided for above the people
would have uuc0uscIous.y adj UsJed themselves
"a the circumstances, and that without c0utro-
vcssy. THIS would secure to the country .
language spelled as spoken, al adoument Of
beauty Tor the literature of AmerIca.-Gey.
/ WILLIAM JOHNSTON, Ottumwa, Iowa.