The perfectly imperfect language

Funny, how life ponderings can be stimulated by so many things. I was looking today at some facebook posts. One was complaining about the variation of spelling and pronunciation variance in the English language. Well, in case you didn’t know I had tutored over 30 years in my life teaching children to read using my own literacy program that i created. It worked with all, including those with dyslexia. Well , i felt an urge to respond to the post with this very long winded reply below of ponderence.

“Its Webster’s fault. He standardized our language WITHOUT deciding on a single specific set of language base words. Thus, he set the mix match of phonetic rules from a large variety of languages for spelling and sounding he used to 'standardized' English. What an idiot! Yet, that the ruling society at that time accepted it... If i could i would twinkle my nose... Go back in time and set them straight! 

There is no reason for both vowel rules cvvc (consonant, vowel, vowel,consonant) and cvcv (consonant, vowel, consonant, vowel).  And the letters c, x, q are not needed because they only mimic other sounds are combinations thereof. And letters g, s, y ought to stick to their primary sounds and let the others do the same. Lol!

HOWEVER, working with phonetic literacy most of my life, i have come to understand some life lessons can be learned from our English language chaos.

"Logical thinking is based on the ability of statistically separating probable from possible."

This establishes the basis for the 80 to 20 rule in which Phonetics fits that rule and addresses and focuses on probabilities of spell and sound letter arrangements. 

"Start with the largest patterns of probability before tending to the exceptions".

This is easily understood when constructing a puzzle. It also establishes the essential need for beginning readers to start with phonics first.

"There are always exceptions to every rule"

The words, ‘though, thought, and thorough’ express this well.

"Patterns can and do exist within patterns'.

For example, 'igh' is an exception to the basic long i spelling rules  i_e, ie, y(when it is at the end and the only vowel in a word.) Yet, the exception pattern sound of 'igh' exists with many.

"Associative learning is far more effective than rote memory"

For example, the igh words can be grouped together through creating a story associating them together increase the amount of spelling information for a pattern to be retained.

‘At night there is no light. This means I have no sight. Even the shiny things that are bright, I can not see. I know i must hold tight because in the morning things will be back to right.’

"Weirdos exist."

in other words, unique situations (and people) help keep our perspectives flexible. The word, "of" is a perfect example of this.

"Even through chaos, systems of survival can result"

Somehow through all of this crazy mess of poorly mixed matched rules of language, English has still become one of the most used universal language in the world. And through its use, i was able to express these thoughts and you to (hopefully) comprehend them. Which leads me to my last understanding,

"The English language is perfectly imperfect."