1 873.] The Future of the English Language. 381 



But he tried it once more, " I've got a bad cuff;" 



The doctor lost patience and said in a huff, 



" If thus you go on I must take myself off." 



" That's it," cried the Frenchman, " I have got a bad cough." 



Now it must be recollected that each of these methods of 

 pronouncing the word cough is sanctioned by the usage in 

 other cases. The analogies of English spelling will justify 

 any absurdity. Take this sentence as an example : " Igh 

 bat ai nyou kought frachm mhy taighlor too-deig."* 



Igh =1, as in nigh, 



bat = bought „ fall, 



ai = a ,, plaid, 



nyou = new ,, you, 



kought = coat „ though, 



frachm = from ,, yacht, 



mhy = my „ rhyme, 



taighlor = tailor ,, straight, 



to = to ,, foot, 



deig = day ,, reign. 



Let common sense decide. If it is reasonable to repre- 

 sent the vowel / by the combination Igh in one case, it is 

 reasonable to do so in all. It would only weary to repeat 

 instances of the absurdities of our spelling. They meet us at 

 every turn. If candidates for employment in the Civil Service, 

 who have in most cases been carefully prepared for the ordeal, 

 fail to learn how to spell, what must be the condition of 

 those to whom hard fortune has denied the chance of any 

 large amount of education ? How many in the working- 

 classes there must be to whom reading in place of being a 

 solace for the hours of relaxation, and a pleasant method of 

 acquiring knowledge and wisdom, is a thing avoided from 

 the difficulties which beset it.t 



This hindrance to the cause of national education, and to 

 the progress of our language abroad having been dwelt upon 

 at some length, it only remains to point out the remedy. 

 Various schemes have from time to time been put forth, 

 but the only one to which attention need now be directed is 

 that advocated by Mr. Isaac Pitman, of Bath. Mr. Pitman, 

 as all the world knows, is the inventor of a very beautiful 



* Phonetic Journal, xxx., 426. 



f Every one must at times have received letters which show how hopeless 

 is the task of the teachers of elementary schools. I transcribe the body of a 

 letter from a young woman, relating to a fellow-servant : — I ham very soory I 

 connot come to see yu as I ham soo Bessey But I can say that the gril his 

 cleane honest and industers as A tow year good chara&ar from her last place 

 she his 202 years of age [a startling assertion ! The meaning of course is 

 20 + 2 = 22] good temperd and stady. 



VOL. III. (N.S.) 3 D 



