I got a kick out of this web site and thought I'd share it with the board. Those who have taught English should get a kick out of it as well.
Do you think that English Orthography, or spelling in English is too difficult? Well, I want to give you the opportunity to alleviate this frustration and try to do something about this problem.
FreeSpelling.Com is the product of one Mr. Richard Lawrence Wade, a TV, Advertising and Radio executive from Oxford, England. He states that:
quote:
�Believe it or not, only 17% of native English speakers can spell the following six words correctly: Height, necessary, accommodation, separate, sincerely, Business�
What you are asked to do at FreeSpelling.Com is VOTE on the spellings that YOU PREFER!
This is your chance. Your opportunity to make a difference and change the English language into something easier for you to learn. Think of how grateful your children and your childrens� children will be to you for this pioneering attitude you are offering to the world.
You can do it!! Make a difference!!!
poseso.... Tony --- English Unlimited... Un ambiente para aprender ingl�s... (An English Learning Environment)
Posts: 656 | Location: Madrid (Kansas City, USA) | Registered: 06 November 2001
What a riot! As a former Spanish teacher, I kept telling my kids that ENGLISH is hard, Spanish is EASY, but they were already so hardwired for English that they couldn't see it(of course, a great many were rotten English spellers as well). I think it's necessary to read a great deal to spell English well, as so very many words are not phonetic, but "sight" words. I'm reminded of a couple of real weirdies: why don't "laughter" and "daughter" rhyme? Did they ever? And all of the permutations of "-ough", from "ow" to "uff". Glad it's my native tongue!!
Pack light, sleep cheap, eat well.
Posts: 479 | Location: ROCKFORD,MI, USA | Registered: 23 May 2001
Good move... two centuries late! The "Real Academia de la Lengua" (RAE) already simplified Spanish spelling short after it was founded, but they stopped before they finish. That's why Spanish spelling is easy, but not the easiest in the world. If you'd like to know more, I recommend you read the prologue in the "Ortograf�a", by the RAE. You can buy it online at Real Academia Espa�ola web page; it's cheap,... and IT IS AUTHORITATIVE (it's edited by THE language authority, so, what else do you want?)
Posts: 399 | Location: Madrid | Registered: 05 July 2001
Hey, Max, here's my favorite Spanish misspelling: "Cerveza fr�a para yevar" on a store not far from where I live. Not a lot of possibilities for wrecking such a smoothly phonetic system. b/v, s/z/c where the seseo reigns, ll/y, silent h omitted or put in the wrong spot. What I like best? Those pure, pure vowel sounds! My theory is that both French and Spanish speakers kiss better because they use the muscles in their mouths to speak. Anyone else tested this out??
Pack light, sleep cheap, eat well.
Posts: 479 | Location: ROCKFORD,MI, USA | Registered: 23 May 2001
Big Freudian slip, Jer. I said, "Spanish SPEAKERS" not TEACHERS! However, since one would hope teachers also speak, you can take credit for Ena's happy mouth!
Pack light, sleep cheap, eat well.
Posts: 479 | Location: ROCKFORD,MI, USA | Registered: 23 May 2001
Sorry Jer, but I'm going to have to award the style point to Sue there.....SHE GOT YOU GOOD BUDDY!
I will have to say though that I've always enjoyed kissing Spanish speakers personally.(female ones that is) I'd even swear that it's helped me with my phonetics!!
poseso.... Tony --- English Unlimited... Un ambiente para aprender ingl�s... (An English Learning Environment)
Posts: 656 | Location: Madrid (Kansas City, USA) | Registered: 06 November 2001
- rent or buy a cell phone from me for your stay in spain, more info at 
- already have a cell phone, get a spanish SIM card for it at 
