Embaressed by yor spelling? Never you mind.

Fed up with his students' complete inability to spell common English
correctly, a British academic has suggested it may be time to accept
"variant spellings" as legitimate.

Rather than grammarians getting in a huff about "argument" being
spelled "arguement" or "opportunity" as "opertunity," why not accept
anything that's phonetically (fonetickly anyone?) correct as long as it
can be understood?

"Instead of complaining about the state of the education system as we
correct the same mistakes year after year, I've got a better idea," Ken
Smith, a criminology lecturer at Bucks New University, wrote in the
Times Higher Education Supplement.

"University teachers should simply accept as variant spelling those
words our students most commonly misspell."

To kickstart his proposal, Smith suggested 10 common misspellings that
should immediately be accepted into the pantheon of variants, including
"ignor," "occured," "thier," "truely," "speach" and "twelth" (it should
be "twelfth").

Then of course there are words like "misspelt" (often spelled
"mispelt"), not to mention "varient," a commonly used variant of
"variant."

And that doesn't even begin to delve into all the problems English
people have with words that use the letters "i" and "e" together, like
weird, seize, leisure, foreign and neighbor.

The rhyme "i before e except after c" may be on the lips of every
schoolchild in Britain, but that doesn't mean they remember the rule by
the time they get to university.

Of course, such proposals have been made in the past. The advent of
text messaging turned many students into spelling neanderthals as
phrases such as "wot r u doin 2nite?" became socially, if not
academically, acceptable.

Despite Smith's suggestion, language mavens are unconvinced. John
Simpson, the chief editor of the Oxford English Dictionary, says rules
are rules and they are there for good reason.

"There are enormous advantages in having a coherent system of
spelling," he told the Times newspaper.

"It makes it easier to communicate. Maybe during a learning phase there
is some scope for error, but I would hope that by the time people get
to university they have learnt to spell."

Yet even some of Britain's greatest wordsmiths have acknowledged it's a
language with irritating quirkiness.

Playwright George Bernard Shaw was fond of pointing out that the word
"ghoti" could just as well be pronounced "fish" if you followed common
pronunciation: 'gh' as in "tough," 'o' as in "women" and 'ti' as in
"nation."

And he was a playright.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080807/...lling_odd_dc_1

--

"badgolferman" <REMOVETHISbadgolferman@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:g7ho5o$kso$1@registered.motzarella.org...
> Embaressed by yor spelling? Never you mind.
>
> Fed up with his students' complete inability to spell common English
> correctly, a British academic has suggested it may be time to accept
> "variant spellings" as legitimate.


What's your opinion of this idea?

JoeSpareBedroom wrote:

>"badgolferman" <REMOVETHISbadgolferman@gmail.com> wrote in message
>news:g7ho5o$kso$1@registered.motzarella.org...
>>Embaressed by yor spelling? Never you mind.
>>
>>Fed up with his students' complete inability to spell common English
>>correctly, a British academic has suggested it may be time to accept
>>"variant spellings" as legitimate.
>
>
>What's your opinion of this idea?

I suppose there have been variations in spelling and pronounciations
over the years. Most of them make it into dictionaries over time.
However those changes generally occur due to regional differences. The
US is probably one of the worst offenders when it comes to butchering
the English language.

Personally I am not in favor of changing or accepting spelling
variations due to people's ignorance or laziness. I think the teaching
academia are not doing the student any favors when they allow the
student to set the standards. Both you and I have seen the results of
poor communication skills everywhere. Whether people like to admit it
or not you are viewed differently when unable to speak or spell
properly.

"badgolferman" <REMOVETHISbadgolferman@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:g7hpqe$n3t$1@registered.motzarella.org...
> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
>
>>"badgolferman" <REMOVETHISbadgolferman@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>news:g7ho5o$kso$1@registered.motzarella.org...
>>>Embaressed by yor spelling? Never you mind.
>>>
>>>Fed up with his students' complete inability to spell common English
>>>correctly, a British academic has suggested it may be time to accept
>>>"variant spellings" as legitimate.
>>
>>
>>What's your opinion of this idea?
>
> I suppose there have been variations in spelling and pronounciations
> over the years. Most of them make it into dictionaries over time.
> However those changes generally occur due to regional differences. The
> US is probably one of the worst offenders when it comes to butchering
> the English language.
>
> Personally I am not in favor of changing or accepting spelling
> variations due to people's ignorance or laziness. I think the teaching
> academia are not doing the student any favors when they allow the
> student to set the standards. Both you and I have seen the results of
> poor communication skills everywhere. Whether people like to admit it
> or not you are viewed differently when unable to speak or spell
> properly.
>


So, you agree that it's difficult to take public officials seriously when
they speak as if they not only failed English, but thumbed their noses at
their English teachers.

JoeSpareBedroom wrote:

>"badgolferman" <REMOVETHISbadgolferman@gmail.com> wrote in message
>news:g7hpqe$n3t$1@registered.motzarella.org...
>>JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
>>
>>>"badgolferman" <REMOVETHISbadgolferman@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>>news:g7ho5o$kso$1@registered.motzarella.org.. .
>>>>Embaressed by yor spelling? Never you mind.
>>>>
>>>>Fed up with his students' complete inability to spell common
>>>>English correctly, a British academic has suggested it may be
>>>>time to accept "variant spellings" as legitimate.
>>>
>>>
>>>What's your opinion of this idea?
>>
>>I suppose there have been variations in spelling and pronounciations
>>over the years. Most of them make it into dictionaries over time.
>>However those changes generally occur due to regional differences.
>>The US is probably one of the worst offenders when it comes to
>>butchering the English language.
>>
>>Personally I am not in favor of changing or accepting spelling
>>variations due to people's ignorance or laziness. I think the
>>teaching academia are not doing the student any favors when they
>>allow the student to set the standards. Both you and I have seen
>>the results of poor communication skills everywhere. Whether
>>people like to admit it or not you are viewed differently when
>>unable to speak or spell properly.
>>
>
>
>So, you agree that it's difficult to take public officials seriously
>when they speak as if they not only failed English, but thumbed their
>noses at their English teachers.


That is not what I said. Go back and re-read my previous statement.
Maybe you need some remedial courses in comprehension.

"badgolferman" <REMOVETHISbadgolferman@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:g7hrqb$pj7$1@registered.motzarella.org...
> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
>
>>"badgolferman" <REMOVETHISbadgolferman@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>news:g7hpqe$n3t$1@registered.motzarella.org...
>>>JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
>>>
>>>>"badgolferman" <REMOVETHISbadgolferman@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>>>news:g7ho5o$kso$1@registered.motzarella.org. ..
>>>>>Embaressed by yor spelling? Never you mind.
>>>>>
>>>>>Fed up with his students' complete inability to spell common
>>>>>English correctly, a British academic has suggested it may be
>>>>>time to accept "variant spellings" as legitimate.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>What's your opinion of this idea?
>>>
>>>I suppose there have been variations in spelling and pronounciations
>>>over the years. Most of them make it into dictionaries over time.
>>>However those changes generally occur due to regional differences.
>>>The US is probably one of the worst offenders when it comes to
>>>butchering the English language.
>>>
>>>Personally I am not in favor of changing or accepting spelling
>>>variations due to people's ignorance or laziness. I think the
>>>teaching academia are not doing the student any favors when they
>>>allow the student to set the standards. Both you and I have seen
>>>the results of poor communication skills everywhere. Whether
>>>people like to admit it or not you are viewed differently when
>>>unable to speak or spell properly.
>>>
>>
>>
>>So, you agree that it's difficult to take public officials seriously
>>when they speak as if they not only failed English, but thumbed their
>>noses at their English teachers.
>
>
> That is not what I said. Go back and re-read my previous statement.
> Maybe you need some remedial courses in comprehension.
>

You did say people are viewed differently when they're unable to speak
properly. Are public officials excluded from that concept?

JoeSpareBedroom wrote:

>"badgolferman" <REMOVETHISbadgolferman@gmail.com> wrote in message
>news:g7hrqb$pj7$1@registered.motzarella.org...
>>JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
>>
>>>"badgolferman" <REMOVETHISbadgolferman@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>>news:g7hpqe$n3t$1@registered.motzarella.org.. .
>>>>JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>"badgolferman" <REMOVETHISbadgolferman@gmail.com> wrote in
>>>>>message news:g7ho5o$kso$1@registered.motzarella.org...
>>>>>>Embaressed by yor spelling? Never you mind.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Fed up with his students' complete inability to spell common
>>>>>>English correctly, a British academic has suggested it may
>>>>>>be time to accept "variant spellings" as legitimate.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>What's your opinion of this idea?
>>>>
>>>>I suppose there have been variations in spelling and
>>>>pronounciations over the years. Most of them make it into
>>>>dictionaries over time. However those changes generally occur
>>>>due to regional differences. The US is probably one of the
>>>>worst offenders when it comes to butchering the English
>>>>language.
>>>>
>>>>Personally I am not in favor of changing or accepting spelling
>>>>variations due to people's ignorance or laziness. I think the
>>>>teaching academia are not doing the student any favors when they
>>>>allow the student to set the standards. Both you and I have
>>>>seen the results of poor communication skills everywhere.
>>>>Whether people like to admit it or not you are viewed
>>>>differently when unable to speak or spell properly.
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>So, you agree that it's difficult to take public officials
>>>seriously when they speak as if they not only failed English, but
>>>thumbed their noses at their English teachers.
>>
>>
>>That is not what I said. Go back and re-read my previous statement.
>>Maybe you need some remedial courses in comprehension.
>>
>
>You did say people are viewed differently when they're unable to
>speak properly. Are public officials excluded from that concept?


People ARE viewed differently but some of us have learned to look
beyond are prejudices. When will you grow up?

"badgolferman" <REMOVETHISbadgolferman@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:g7hsed$qhp$1@registered.motzarella.org...
> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
>
>>"badgolferman" <REMOVETHISbadgolferman@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>news:g7hrqb$pj7$1@registered.motzarella.org...
>>>JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
>>>
>>>>"badgolferman" <REMOVETHISbadgolferman@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>>>news:g7hpqe$n3t$1@registered.motzarella.org. ..
>>>>>JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>>"badgolferman" <REMOVETHISbadgolferman@gmail.com> wrote in
>>>>>>message news:g7ho5o$kso$1@registered.motzarella.org...
>>>>>>>Embaressed by yor spelling? Never you mind.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Fed up with his students' complete inability to spell common
>>>>>>>English correctly, a British academic has suggested it may
>>>>>>>be time to accept "variant spellings" as legitimate.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>What's your opinion of this idea?
>>>>>
>>>>>I suppose there have been variations in spelling and
>>>>>pronounciations over the years. Most of them make it into
>>>>>dictionaries over time. However those changes generally occur
>>>>>due to regional differences. The US is probably one of the
>>>>>worst offenders when it comes to butchering the English
>>>>>language.
>>>>>
>>>>>Personally I am not in favor of changing or accepting spelling
>>>>>variations due to people's ignorance or laziness. I think the
>>>>>teaching academia are not doing the student any favors when they
>>>>>allow the student to set the standards. Both you and I have
>>>>>seen the results of poor communication skills everywhere.
>>>>>Whether people like to admit it or not you are viewed
>>>>>differently when unable to speak or spell properly.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>So, you agree that it's difficult to take public officials
>>>>seriously when they speak as if they not only failed English, but
>>>>thumbed their noses at their English teachers.
>>>
>>>
>>>That is not what I said. Go back and re-read my previous statement.
>>>Maybe you need some remedial courses in comprehension.
>>>
>>
>>You did say people are viewed differently when they're unable to
>>speak properly. Are public officials excluded from that concept?
>
>
> People ARE viewed differently but some of us have learned to look
> beyond are prejudices. When will you grow up?


Would you hire GWB as a trainee to work at a nuclear electric generating
facility if he spoke just as badly as he usually does?

JoeSpareBedroom wrote:

>"badgolferman" <REMOVETHISbadgolferman@gmail.com> wrote in message
>news:g7hsed$qhp$1@registered.motzarella.org...
>>JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
>>
>>>"badgolferman" <REMOVETHISbadgolferman@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>>news:g7hrqb$pj7$1@registered.motzarella.org.. .
>>>>JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>"badgolferman" <REMOVETHISbadgolferman@gmail.com> wrote in
>>>>>message news:g7hpqe$n3t$1@registered.motzarella.org...
>>>>>>JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>"badgolferman" <REMOVETHISbadgolferman@gmail.com> wrote in
>>>>>>>message news:g7ho5o$kso$1@registered.motzarella.org...
>>>>>>>>Embaressed by yor spelling? Never you mind.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Fed up with his students' complete inability to spell
>>>>>>>>common English correctly, a British academic has
>>>>>>>>suggested it may be time to accept "variant spellings"
>>>>>>>>as legitimate.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>What's your opinion of this idea?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I suppose there have been variations in spelling and
>>>>>>pronounciations over the years. Most of them make it into
>>>>>>dictionaries over time. However those changes generally
>>>>>>occur due to regional differences. The US is probably one
>>>>>>of the worst offenders when it comes to butchering the
>>>>>>English language.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Personally I am not in favor of changing or accepting
>>>>>>spelling variations due to people's ignorance or laziness.
>>>>>>I think the teaching academia are not doing the student any
>>>>>>favors when they allow the student to set the standards.
>>>>>>Both you and I have seen the results of poor communication
>>>>>>skills everywhere. Whether people like to admit it or not
>>>>>>you are viewed differently when unable to speak or spell
>>>>>>properly.
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>So, you agree that it's difficult to take public officials
>>>>>seriously when they speak as if they not only failed English,
>>>>>but thumbed their noses at their English teachers.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>That is not what I said. Go back and re-read my previous
>>>>statement. Maybe you need some remedial courses in
>>>>comprehension.
>>>>
>>>
>>>You did say people are viewed differently when they're unable to
>>>speak properly. Are public officials excluded from that concept?
>>
>>
>>People ARE viewed differently but some of us have learned to look
>>beyond are prejudices. When will you grow up?
>
>
>Would you hire GWB as a trainee to work at a nuclear electric
>generating facility if he spoke just as badly as he usually does?


Why does everything always come back to your president? You are
obsessed with the man's speech patterns. I can understand him
perfectly well.

What is your opinion of the topic itself?

JoeSpareBedroom wrote:

>>What is your opinion of the topic itself?
>>
>
>The topic sucks. But, you made a general statement. I asked the
>question about Bush because I wanted to watch and laugh as you tried
>to explain away one particular exception: The man you treat like a
>deity.
>
>Thank you for doing it. It was fully expected, and fun to see
>(again). You'll do it any time I want you to.

Are you able to have a conversation with someone without making weak
attempts at manipulation? I am doing my best to disregard your
condescending attitude but you make it very difficult to do so. You
would be taken much more seriously if you actually treated others
respectfully and even told us what YOU think about a given topic rather
than what the New York Times told you to say.