Re: Off topic: English orthography

From: Robert Brady (robert@events.susu.soton.ac.uk)
Date: Wed Jul 21 1999 - 09:22:57 EDT


> > Of course orthography is prescriptivist. There are correct ways to spell
> > and incorrect ways to spell. For a subset of the words in our language,
> > there are preferred and less-preferred forms.
> >
>
> Not in English. Orthography has always been gloriously chaotic. "Correct"
> spelling is like "correct" grammar, something up with which schoolmasters will not
> put, but which <i>la gente</i> gladly put up with. The tests are 1) does your
> spellling get yer msg acrost?, and 2) whom do you wish to impress?

Take it to alt.usage.english, please.

-- 
Robert



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