Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-02-22
SPELLING REFORM.

formity in method OF representation of
the sounds Of speech, which is to come
before the national organization Tor con
sideration. Those who are interested in
resolution in support Of the movement
for reform in spelling was adopted at
the meeting Of the Modern Language
Association Of America at It's meeting in
Haverford. Mass. during the closing days
of last year, and it is expected that ac-
ton of a somewhat similar character will
ment of superintendent OF the National
Educational association in louisville.
The resolution to he introduced at the
meeting of tn" educational associa tior- is
to the effect that the DEPARTMENT of SUI
perintcndence approves the proposal 10
hold an International conference of OK
siderins uniform method Of graphic
representation Of the sounds of speech.
1t is urged tina, the most important
immediate use for "A universal alphabet
is To serve as a uniform key to pronun-
citation in all dictionaries. The editors and
publishers OF the leading American die
unanimity that, If a universal alphabet
were adopted possessing the requisite au-
thority. dictionaries would be compelled
to adopt il as their key to pronunciation
can invest such an alphabet with the
requisite authority is a conference OF the
leading experts. These experts are well
known and are ready 10 do the work, if
somebody will pay the expenses of con-
ference. which are estimated at about
$4,000
pronunciation, primers and language
manuals will he compelled to conform to
them. At present the pronouncing keys
of dictionaries are not learned by heart
because there are too many of them. 4
uniform key in all dictionaries. primers
and language manuals would he learned
repetition. Thus the educated public all
over the globe would become familiar
with a uniform scientific method of in
dicating pronunciation. that is to say
uniform phonetic spelling for all
languages.
The next step cannot be better Described
than by an extract from Benn Pitman =
"I.ife and Labors of Sir Isaac Pitman,"
which says that numerous classes Of
children in many towns Of England and
Scotland were taught to read by the
phonetic method with precision and toler-
able nuency in from two to three months
by one hours daily instruction. The tran
spelling was comparatively easy. The
resemblance between the old and new
styles was 50 great that the pupils
ability to read the new method enabled
them to decipher the greater number OF
words in common print. 1t was thus
demonstrated that The easiest way Of
learning to read the ordinary spelling was
to begin with the phonetic system
If such experiments are made with
alphabe,s devised by individuals and
therefore possessing but limited authority
and utility. they viii bc more frequently
made with an alphabet possessing the
highest authority ana presenting the
great utility OF being the recognized key
for indicating the pronunciation both %
English and of other languages. When
familiar with the fact that the cdse 81
way OF learning to read the ordinary
spelling is to begin with the phonetic
system, it will not ne long befor. all the
schools begin with the phonetic alphabet,
Thus the entire rising generation will be-
come as familiar with the phonetic SPELL
ing as with the traditional, not merely
without extra labor but with a great Saw
ing Of labor. The gradual disappearance
Of the traditional spelling from every
day use will then be only a question Of
time.
Here then. is a method of spelling re-
form which Will meet with no resistance
and require no sacrifice whatever, but az
every successive step VIII confer "A dis
tinct benefit, welcomed by everybody A
uniform key To pronunciation would Of
course be welcomed both by the makers
and the users of dictionaries. Everybody
would be pleased to have a method OF
indicating pronunciation which shall be
underst ood al glance all over the globe.
II next It is found that the easiest way
of learning to read the ordinary spelling
is to begin with the phonetic system
teachers will OF course welcome this
method as a great saving of time and
labor. If thus the entire rising genera
ton becomes familiar with two spell
ings, one easy and rational, the other
difficult and irrational, everybody will OF
course be glad To drop the difficult and
irrational as fast as possible The only
reason why it is tolerated now is because
people know no other.
Asked AND ANSWERED.