The History of English Podcast Episode 163: An Elementary Education
Nov 9, 2022
Explore the changing perception of English in the Elizabethan period and the advocacy of Richard Mulcaster for standardizing English spelling. Learn about the impact of John Lily on English literature and the evolving attitudes towards the English language. Discover the origins of the word 'hiccup' and delve into Maulcaster's spelling system and reforms.
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Alphabet Limits Shaped Spelling Choices
- Mulcaster presented a 24-letter alphabet reflecting that J and distinct U/V had not yet emerged as separate letters.
- He insisted the existing letters sufficed and rejected adding Greek letters or accent marks for English.
Use Tradition To Guide Spelling
- Restore historical consonants when tradition justifies them, as Mulcaster recommended reinserting T in fetch and scratch.
- Favor etymology and customary practice when choosing standard spellings over strict phonetics.
Early Rules For Doubling Consonants
- Mulcaster argued against doubling final consonants generally, allowing doubles only where functional patterns and pronunciation supported them.
- His observations anticipated modern rules for doubling in words like hopping/hoping and hammer/ham.