Deb Lewis

***You know it's because of the evil of phonics, don't you? ***

Dylan recently asked me why the word "Autumn" has a silent n. I thought
it was from Autumnus, don't know, but I'll probably look it up today, and
he wondered why the n wasn't dropped entirely. He really feels if we're
going to decide to drop whole syllables from words we should make a clean
cut and get rid of those pesky leftover letters.
We decided the letters were left in so there could be funny scenes in
Monty Python movies. <g>

***Instead of the huge emphasis on phonics I wish people/teachers/readers
would
just be honest and tell kids "You don't know for sure until you hear it."

Not just about names, about any words, especially in English. ***

When the first Harry Potter book came out one of our friends called us
and others trying to find out how to say "Hermione." Everyone had a
different idea. <g> (She was only calling friends in our calling area,
not long distance, not to England where someone would have really known.)


Deb L

[email protected]

In a message dated 11/24/05 8:51:51 AM, ddzimlew@... writes:


> -=-He really feels if we're
> going to decide to drop whole syllables from words we should make a clean
> cut and get rid of those pesky leftover letters. -=-
>
I think it's because English is a visual language full of its own
thousand-year history, and like an antique shop stuffed with wonderful things to
discover, there are mysteries but they're beautiful when you know what they are.

Sandra




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