If phonics is so important, why doesn't it start with an F?

Answer 1

Tricks of the english language

Answer 2

It's just one of the quirks of the English language.
Many of the words that start with ph are from Greek.
However, not all words that start with ph
have an initial "f" sound. Sometimes the "ph" is
silent. For example, phthisic(a wasting lung disease)
is pronounced "Tizic".
Just for fun, here's a little jingle from Hooked on
Phonics, that I saw in a magazine some years ago:
Ed was a Sioux
His brother was tioux
Both were trioux blioux bloods
Thrioux and thrioux!

Answer 3

For the same reason that United States doesn't start with a "y", "England doesn't start with "ee", and Canada doesn't start with a K - i.e. it's the way it happens to be spelt, based, in this case, on the original Greek spelling (φ) which was originally sounded like a "p" followed by an "h" sound - this naturally becomes an "f" sound with the passing of the years/centuries.

Answer 4

how does a word that starts with "F" make it important? The word "phonics" is of Greek origin, and that's how "ph" is prounced in their language.

Answer 5

phthisic

Who said the ph is silent? In Greek, every sound is pronounced. It's Ph-thi-sik, the spelling with the c, is from Latin. Most Latin words changed all the original Greek spelling into a "c" or "ch" when the original Greek should be a "k" or "kh"

actually there's no such word in Greek, in Greek, it's phthisikos.

Answer 6

1.why should it???!
2. in some languages it does!!

Answer 7

Phuck me, this has to be about the most insightful thing yet asked...

Answer 8

wow just wow.....physics, phenomenon, physical, etc. as we learnt in grade 2 grammar, many different letter combinations make different sounds.
wow