Language learning could be much easier

It must become more learner-friendly by bringing some of the more bizarre spellings into line with established phonics-based patterns, where one letter equals one sound. Why haven’t we done anything about the horrific spelling, which has not been reformed significantly in 400 years? The challenge is how to best help learners read quickly and comprehend easily, emphasising that language is about promoting effective and efficient communicative. Let it evolve naturally from flexible use and acceptance, realising that many of the inconsistent spelling rules are just plain dumb – eliminating the silent “b”.

The ascendant generations will accommodate their ever-changing wants, needs and tastes. Etymology is interesting but irrelevant to a Level 1 student struggling to master the basics. We need to clean up our act – reforming, revamping and rethinking illogical and irrational absurdities that mangle the world’s potentially greatest language. A streamlined approach making English less clumsy, complicated and convoluted should include, for starters, dropping all silent letters and eliminating consecutive double letters. English is not an easy language to learn, whereas regularised Finnish and Malay are, which have eliminated major flaws in the name of learner-focused progress. Research data support the idea that half of the population is linguistically disadvantaged because unruly spelling “idiotsyncrazies” are barriers to functional literacy.

The aim of modernisation of English spelling is not to make it perfect, just to make reading and writing for motivated young learners substantially easier and faster than it is now. Bottom line: less fixed rigidity, more accommodating flexibility.

Charles Frederickson 

Bangkok