Richard Wordingham wrote:

>
> --- In qalam@yahoogroups.com, "i18n@..." <i18n@...> wrote:
>
> > So it is far from clear to me that there are not forces operating in
> > both directions. Are you saying that there is absolutely no connection
> > between the nature of *any* spoken languages *ever* and the
> evolution of
> > writing systems for them?
> >
> > If so, that would seem to be a pretty broad claim of the type that is
> > disproved by a single counter-example.
>
> I'm not sure what you're looking for. Are you looking for something
> deeper than spelling pronunciations?
>
> Changes in speech usually have an effect on a writing system, but I
> don't think anyone would deny that claim.

Except that writing systems are highly resistant to change. Except for
"spelling reforms," they generally only do it when they reach some sort
of catastrophe (in the quondam mathematical sense).
--
Peter T. Daniels grammatim@...