Re: Anyone for spelling reform?

Paul Bennett wrote:
>
> Christophe>>>>>>
> Paul Bennett wrote:
> >
> > Came across this while cleaning out my old mail (as part of trying to make a
> > searchable conlang archive, but that's another story...).  I wish I'd found it
> > during one of the "spelling reform" threads, but here it is, anyway, for your
> > delight and delecation...
> >
>
>         I come across this one approximately once per three months :) , and it
> is still funny. I wonder who wrote this text anyway. It must be one of
> the most famous texts across the web now, and I think his author should
> be rewarded for that :) .
> <<<<<<Christophe
>
> I thought it might be fairly well-known.  I find it tends to amuse.
>
> Christophe>>>>>>
>         Another question: why do you think this guy speaks of replacing 'w' by
> 'v'? I thought 'w' had been invented especially because 'v' had two
> different values and that it would ease spelling to have another letter
> (just like the Romance alphabet introduced j and v as consonnantal
> alternatives to i and u, whereas the Latin alphabet had only i and u
> -capitals I and V- for both). Replacing 'w' by 'v' would only have one
> complication reappeared... Anyway, the text is so funny...
> <<<<<<Christophe
>
> The clues are:
>
> The English (stereotypically) unilaterally dislike and distrust the Germans.  We
> beleive(d at the time of the original message) that they are (or were) trying to
> make the EU into a German-legislated and Bundesbank-controlled federal nation.
>
        When you now that at the beginning of the Euro, most Germans called it
the "Euro-mark", sometimes you wonder if it is so stereotypical :) .

> The article mentions German as an alternative to English and the new Euro
> auxlang.
>
> The stereotypical German accent does almost all of the changes described,
> including <w> -> /v/
>
        So it's in fact a way to make a Germanified English. Now I understand
all the implications of the text :) .

> At least, that's the way I read it.
>
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--
        Christophe Grandsire

        Philips Research Laboratories --  Building WB 145
        Prof. Holstlaan 4
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        Phone:  +31-40-27-45006
        E-mail: grandsir@natlab.research.philips.com