Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 April 1875 — Orthography and Orthoepy. [ARTICLE]

Orthography and Orthoepy.

We may as well take it for granted i that the American citizen cannot spell. This has been abundantly demonstrated by every spelling-match which has recently occurred in the country. One citizen may fail on “ tyranny” and another dn “ sieve,” and still another on “ withhold,” and the word on which one citizen fails may be very simple to both of his companions, but down they all will go on one thing or another, and we feel the truth of the Scriptural assertion that “ there is none perfect; no, not one.” It may be that these spelling-matches, which are beneficial in more ways than one to the public, will cause us to suspect that we possess a very absurd and and barbarous language. It will occur to many that an idiom employed so largely by the people of the earth ought to have some defined rules of orthography and pronunciation. If the English language has these, it is very difficult to learn what they are. Why should we spell “off*’ o-f-f, and “cough” c-o-u-g-h? Why should we employ such barbarous ways of spelling mnemonics, pneumatics, phthisic, ptarmigan and other words that might be mentioned? Absurd as is our established form of orthography. however, it is very respectable when compared with our mode of pronunciation. About the best deed that the Rev. Florence McCarthy has done in Chicago was to introduce, a week or so ago, a pronouncing-match, conducted on the principle of spelling tournaments, and which was equally profitable and amusing. We hope W see more of these matches. If they do not lead to reforms in orthography and orthoepy they will at h ast increase our proficiency in the.present system. There is no good reason, however, why improvements should not be made in both branches. If uarily or similitude were to be observed in the

slightest degree r-ou-g-h w ould not be pronounced ruff while s-l-o " u g-L is pronounced sloo. And if s-l-o-. u ’g-h spells sloo, why floes not t-ou-g-h j,’P e “ And while we are about it, why would it not be a good deal more sensible 1° spell these words as they arevpronomiced say, r-u-ff, ruff; t-u-ff, tuff;" s-l-00, sloo; t-h-o, tho, instead of though, etc. .Perhaps the interest now being manifest e d will develop improvements in these n. '• spects, and in that way be of more than passing benefit to the public.— Chicago Inter-Ocean.