The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1904-06-17
PRONUNCIATION REFORM.
Of Much More Consequence Than a
system o. Phonetic Spelling.
Nv. \nr. I'r::i:.:::..

N,w Yor: I'r:E:::;:?-r'
|, nigh: we'll provoke the passing
wonder q: 4 visitor from Mars that
most oi i, effor:s OF language tlnk-
crcrs arc devoted to so-called spell
ing reform: as though the salvation
oi The race depended upon our spell
ing phttisic "tiz;k" We are not I'M
mindful OF the fact that many.changes
have been mad: since. let IFS say.
Chauccr'S time in English orthog-
raphy. some inr better and some for
worse. and we have no doubt that
other changes will hereafter be made.
also some for better and some tor
worse. But the objections to any
immediate. arbitrary and general re-
spelling OF English words on phon-
etic basis are so many, so strong and
so obvious that it is really difficult to
regard with patience some OF the pro-
posalS to that effect that are period
ically made. Simple. easy and ration
al spelling is doubtless desirable. but
it is not the most desirable thing, and
it certainly should never be sought
at the expense OF right understand
ing OF the derivation. formation, re-
Ilationship and exact meaning Of
words
Our visitor from Mars might we'll
wonder why some OF this linguistic
zeal is not devoted to the reform Of
pronunciation, seeing that words are
spoken far oftener than they are
written or printed. and seeing. too.
that fault and differences in pronun-
citation cause far more confusion, mis-
understanding and perplexity than
do all the so-called eccentricities Of
spelling. The different dialects .
which make the common speech Of
one English country scarcely intel
ligble to another and which make
the speech OF one part OF the United
States seem strange to another. are
due chiefly to pronunciation and in
the pronunciation OF the common
words. Now. We do not say that all
these differences should be or could
be abolished: but unquestionably
there would be great gain in so
modifying them that every user OF
lhs English language could without
difficulty understand any other. and
especially in correcting those pecul-
iar;t;cs a"i corruptions of pronuncia-
tion which are due to ignorance or
to slovenlincSs-not 10 mention those
w,lici. are due 20 faddish affectation.
The reform OF pronunciation would
differ widely from that OF spelling.
and would be at once more easy and
difficult. 1t would also differ from it
in having far less 70 do with precedent
ard ancient custom. 1t is note
worthy fact that. while we know how
English WORDS were spelled centuries
ago. we have no means OF knowing
exactly now they were pronounced
even oco years back. Our positive
knowledge does not antedate the first
"pronc1ncing dictionary. At the
same ti:ne. such dictionaries, and even
the personal memories Of living men.
assure lis that many marked changes
have been made. The rhyme and
rhythm OF poetry affords MS many
clues to old-time pronunciation.
though. ri course. these are not al
ways iniallible. because we do not
know to what extent poetic license"
may have been practiced. Thus, Chau-
Ger seems 20 have accented "laboure'
Oabcr) as though it rhymed with
"explorc." and "daggere" (dagger) as
though it rhymed with beware"
DRYDEN made sea rhyme with
way" and there is reason to suppose
sea was then generally pronounced
say" So Pope was perhaps using
the common pronunciation when he
made tea" rhyme with "obey" COM
non practice still following the
French form the Though PepyS
did write OF "a cup Of tee
/, is we'll known. Of course. that
The ,nak1 which we NOW call an ad-