Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1890-02-21
TWO USELESS LETTERS.


represented ny II anu ..
There are two letters in the English
alphabet which are entirely useless in
their present form, as they represent no
sound which is not as well or better rep
resented by another letter. They are C
and q. The letter has no sound of its
own, under any conceivable circum-
stances. 1t is either s or k, depending
upon its combination with avowel and
Its position in a word. For instance,
take the word used a few lines above
conceivable. Here are twoc 's, the sound
Of the first being that of X, and the sound
u the second being that of 8. If the
word were spelled conceivable" the
pronunciation would be exactly the
same, and the spelling would be logical.
Hit be objected that the letter has
two sounds, the answer is that substitute
Ing it for would not make matters any
worse. If the Kissing sound of is rep
resented by C, the sound would be re-
tanned ii S were put in the place of C.
We learn to read by the ear quite
much as by the eye, and
giving the correct sound of s
Ea feat of the memory, nothing more.
Some one will say, however; "What is
70 De done with the great number of
words in which C is found in combina-
ton with h? How shall we spell
tharlty,' arch and all the other words
VI mat kind?" The reply to this criti-
eiSm Is that there should be new let
Nf 70 represent the soft sound of CHI,
snile the letter k may be substituted
lot the hard sound. Perhaps the letter
cmight be left on condition that it be
gwen the Italian sound, which is very
aear 10 our sound of CHI, but by itself
utterly useless and valueless, and a
Uurce OF constant confusion and annoy
ahOe' when it is remem bered that all
@e many "shun" examinations there are
W, TWO words in the language which
rlu IN 'clon, y it will be seen how read
=! Tue c could be spared. The letter q
worse than useless. 1t has to have
.uO'nef letter will. it, and that always
' Ie same letter, before it can be used at
al III English. The French use it as a
@1~ihal letter, but we do not, and
"Hs,eSef 1t is found in English, whether
ue beginning or in the middle Of
a. "Oru' 1t must be accompanied by
oiamese twin, the letter u. OF
"aise IL Is obvious that the real let.
"i' mat is, the real representative of a
s sOsna' Is not q, but gu, and there is no
h au Vi gu which can not just as well
N '1 ~ by two other letters, k and
ts,, Il !, we make this arrangement of let
a. g. Awlck' 1t spells exactly the same
" Yuck' and eliminates the q entire
u I ~ the alphabet. 1t is not attempt
rat 'lis article to advocate spelling
,er, IN general. The subject is a
n.r. extensive one, and is being con-
The Es brought up by such journals as
tona sOnetlk Nuz and similar publica-
hin Every theoretical consideration
Inolo a,or OF the reform, but the SPELL
ovn 'OOA and dictionary still hold their
no.,, anu the children learn to spell not
tbon 'i y, az their parents did, but because
saso % some time there may come a
and !. pubic interest in the subject
petio general uprising in favor of pho
will oo spelling and then the language
pean V,e'Elalnly be simplified; but in the
lin. rla there can be no harm in get
/ INV s", VI and q, of which it may be
bsn V a, mat their room would be better
Chronicle. ''rip"hy'-san Francisco