Re: Creative spelling scheme

Elliott Lash wrote:

> Very very interesting ... I especially like the diagraphs hz and hs.
> I'm a bit confused why you chose ue = /ai/ (is that right?) and
> ie = /o:/. This seems a bit backwards to me, perhaps you could
> explain the choice.
Recall the rule that diacritics are dropped in diphthongs. The reason
for this rule is that diphthongs vary more readily than pure vowels,
and the vowels within them are less distinct. Most people wouldn't
notice the difference between [&I] and [ei].

But in order to squeeze the scheme into just five vowels, not
including diacritics, I had to use the same vowel for [i] and [u-].
([u-] is the vowel in "you", isn't it?), the latter using a diacritic.
Unlike other diacritic/nondiacritic pairs, these two sounds are very
distinct. Therefore either an exception to the diacritic dropping
rule is needed, or else clear conventions about which diphthongs
contain which sounds. I opted for the latter.

Now, {u} ordinarily represents [a], and {e} ordinarily represents [i],
hence the choice of {ue} for [ai]. The word "oh" is [o-u-], I believe
(being a sort of rounded schwa followed by the vowel in "you"). In my
main list of vowels the nearest thing to [o-] is [@]={i}, [u-] is
{e} with a diacritic. Hence {ie} for [o-u-].

As for the scheme, like all these things it continues to evolve,
largely in response to my own common mistakes. Some changes are:

 - The {o} in a digraph is dropped at the end of a word except for
   {oo} (representing the Swedish å) and {uo} (representing [a:]).

 - Diphthongs ending in the semivowel {w}, or in another consonant,
   do not lose their diacritics.

Names of planets from Mercury to Pluto: Múokyhire, Veonnis, Úohs,
Muoz, Djéoppiti, Sattin, Yéoraennis, Náptchéon, Pléottie.

Adrian.