Manchester Memoirs, Vol. Ixv. (192 1), N'o. 6 13 



(2) General Advantages. 



(a) A reformed spelling would effect a great saving of 

 time and energy, as well as money ; all of which could be 

 devoted to more valuable purposes in education. 



(b) Very few people are able to spell really well. There 

 are no less than 1,100 words about the spelling of which 

 the dictionaries do not agree. Correct spellings have to be 

 learnt by heart, in the manner of Chinese word-forms. 

 Reformed spelling would do away with this. 



(c) A reformed spelling would make possible the deter- 

 mination of a standard speech. No standard speech can 

 be taught without a system of spelling which truly and 

 constantly represents sound values. (See (/), below). 



(d) Until a standard speech can be fixed upon and taught, 

 the present degradation of our language (of which the Poet 

 Laureate speaks so despairingly) must go on. Clear vowel 

 sounds are rarely heard in unstressed syllables, and even 

 the consonants are often blurred. The beauty of English 

 speech is endangered. 



(e) The old spelling is the only serious obstacle in the 

 way of English becoming the world language. 



(/) One of the strongest barriers between classes is the 

 difference in pronunciation. This difference is reinforced 

 by our chaotic spelling. Those who oppose a reformed 

 spelling are guilty of perpetuating class-divisions. 



The main arguments that have been brought against the 

 adoption of a reformed spelling are : — 



(1) It would cause inconvenience to those of us who have 

 already learnt the present spelling. It should be pointed out 

 in the first place that this inconvenience will be very much 

 less than is commonly supposed : anyone can learn the new 

 system of spelling in the course of a few hours and it is not 

 necessary to read many pages in the new spelling before one 

 reads it with almost as great facility as the old. But suppose 

 we admit that there is some inconvenience to grown-up 

 learners : are there any readers who are so selfish that they 

 would refuse to adopt a system that will save millions of 

 children from the annoyance of illogical spelling and the waste 

 of some years of school education, rather than accept a few 

 hours' or davs' inconvenience to themselves? Such an 

 argument is altogether unworthy of right-minded people. 

 We go on opposing; the introduction of a reformed spelling 



