Should we get an easier spelling?

Question

Did anyone else see this? http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060705/ap_on_re_us/simpl_wurdz

I was thinking about this actually, earlier today. Like, why aren't words just spelt the way they sound? But now that I've seen it, I hate it. I hope it never gets like that. It just makes everyone look more stupid and it would just be way to confusing.

Answer 1

I know, that's the stupidest idea I've ever heard. After I read that I feel like I want to spell everything the right way, not simplifying anything, even online, because if they actually simplify the way words are spelled, I'm going to kill myself. I'm going to be an English teacher when I grow up, but I'm not going teach everybody tuu spel dis wei, and whoever came up with the idea can shove it up their asses.

Answer 2

No languages change immediately. They evolve over time. That's why a drastic change like the one the article suggests would never work. It's too much for us - every word seems to look weird.

But languages are always slowly changing. For instance, advertisers have conditioned us very heavily to alternative spellings like "lite" and "nite", and soon these alternative spellings will actually be considered grammatically correct ways to spell "light" and "night". Eventually, "light" and "night" will probably be phased out completely, like words from Old or Middle English.

English may become easier to spell over time, but it's impossible for the suggested changes to happen overnight.

Answer 3

That's insane.

1. Spelling is not that hard. Millions of people have mastered it, should we dumb everything down to make things easier for the lowest common denominator?

2. We have machines! that help us spell. If you still can't spell with the help of spellcheck, I have no advice for you, but I do know that changing the system is not the answer.

3. I would happily march on Washington, excuse me, Washungtun, to prevent an atrocity like this from going through.

Answer 4

Yes I totally agree! We have had this system for too many centuries and to ask many generations of persons to change the way they think, speak and spell is simply unfair and unthinkable! I've always excelled at the English language and it's associated studies, but I'll be darned before I change everything I've learned to accomodate certain others because they found it too difficult. Sorry folks, I like the way we're doing it now!

Answer 5

Believe me, it's been tried. The earliest Americans tried spelling words as they sounded, but everyone interprets sounds differently and people began misreading things that were written or were unable to read anything that someone else wrote.

Answer 6

Too many logistical problems. People may spell words the way they pronounce them, so the same word may be spelled different ways.
Plus, you'd still have to learn how to spell, anyway.

Answer 7

No way!! People are already getting stupider each generation, and making spellings easier would just accelerate that!

Answer 8

I agree with you; making our rules of spelling simpler would take all the fun out of English, wouldn't it? *wink*

Besides, we can't do it phonetically, due to the huge variation in pronounciation amongst all native speakers. For example, is"new" "Nyoo", or "Noo"? Is "where" really "where"...or, as some say it, "wear"? Imagine the outright war we'd have!

So, I say, it's bad enough, don't make it any worse.

Answer 9

That is just crazy! That would be way to confusing for those of us who can actually spell.

Answer 10

Nope didn't see ,just did though.To many Anal people to have that happen.They feel better demoralizing others about their bad grammar and spelling.I may have dyslexia and always tried hard.But,I definitely no those people really suck the big one.As I say, they are anal *******! I'm glad they have low self-esteem,that they feel better to belittle others.