Re: The 2nd language issue

[Andrew]:

> My wife has taught English as a foreign language, and she tells me our
> absurd spelling system is a major obstacle to foreigners trying to learn the
> language. Some languages (eg French) retain spellings from the way words
> were pronounced a few hundred years ago. English spelling, however, is far
> worse, seeking to reflect spellings of cognates in other languages, up to
> 2000 years ago. Moving to a phonetic system would help millions of people.

It's funny. In my eyes the English spelling system (unspoiled forms of
imported words + absence of diacritics like in noble Latin) is the most charming
and attractive peculiarity of this language (I'd add here also absence of causes
and of gender in inanimates). However English phonetics (the way of reading
written words) is as bad for me as
beautiful is spelling.
I apologize in advance if my remark offends those who love English.

Alexander