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Re: Anyone for spelling reform?

From:Grandsire, C.A. <grandsir@...>
Date:Wednesday, October 27, 1999, 12:03
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. > > ************************************************************* > This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential > and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity > to whom they are addressed. > If you have received this email in error please notify the > sender. This footnote also confirms that this email message > has been scanned for the presence of computer viruses. > *************************************************************
-- Christophe Grandsire Philips Research Laboratories -- Building WB 145 Prof. Holstlaan 4 5656 AA Eindhoven The Netherlands Phone: +31-40-27-45006 E-mail: grandsir@natlab.research.philips.com