Why aren’t all words spelt phonetically? Wouldn’t it be easier?
English is a Germanic tongue with a French vocabulary thanks to the Norman Conquest period we then borrowed a number of words and Order roots from Greek and Latin, as well as adopting words wholesale from languages as diverse as German and Japanese. The silent k in knife was not always silent. Ba…
The Short Answer
English is a Germanic tongue with a French vocabulary thanks to the Norman Conquest period we then borrowed a number of words and Order roots from Greek and Latin, as well as adopting words wholesale from languages as diverse as German and Japanese. The silent k in knife was not always silent. Back in the days when Webster was putting his dictionary together, there was an argument among lexicographers and as to whether or not to reach spell words so that they would be phonetically spelled or whether to spell words so that they reflected their origin. This is why the military rank of Colonel looks nothing like it sounds to us; lexicographers decided to go with the spelling that reflected its origin more than a spelling that reflects its pronunciation. Over time, this complicated history of the language along with various vowel shifts and other the like left us with our current complicated mess. And that is why English is largely considered to be the most difficult language to learn as a second language
Analysis
Key Concepts: Words, language, english
This explanation focuses on words, language, english and spans 175 words across 6 sentences. At 133% above the average Technology explanation (75 words), this is one of the more thorough answers in this category, reflecting the complexity of the underlying question.
What This Answer Covers
The explanation opens with: “English is a Germanic tongue with a French vocabulary thanks to the Norman Conquest period we then borrowed a number of “ It then elaboratesultimately building toward a complete picture across 6 connected points.
How This Compares in Technology
Ranked #2 of 500 Technology questions by answer depth (top 1%). This places it in the comprehensive tier — the top quarter of most thoroughly answered questions. Questions at this depth typically involve multi-faceted topics requiring nuanced explanation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a simple explanation for why all words spelt phonetically? wouldn't it be easier?
English is a Germanic tongue with a French vocabulary thanks to the Norman Conquest period we then borrowed a number of words and Order roots from Greek and Latin, as well as adopting words wholesale from languages as diverse as German and Japanese….
How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Technology questions?
This is one of the most thorough answer at 175 words, ranked #2 of 500 Technology questions by depth. The key concepts covered are words, language, english.
What approach does this answer take to explain all words spelt phonetically? wouldn't it be easier?
The explanation uses direct explanation across 175 words. It is categorized under Technology and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.