Spelling Society : SS6 July 1998 part 4.

SS6. On other pages: part 1, part 2, part 3.

simpl speling July 1998 part 4.

[Steve Bett: see Journals, Newsletters, Personal View, Web links.]
[Web addresses have been omitted as they are unlikely to be valid now. Search engines may find the people or topics.]

Spelling on the net with Steve Bett.

SSS Web site's low rating in statistics analysis.

Rating software checks spelling, load time, dead, links, and link popularity and then rates the web site on a four-point scale.

As might be anticipated, the SSS web site, which includes pages written in CS, receives a low rating when it comes to spelling. Link popularity is also rated as poor or low. Link popularity refers to the number of sites that are linked to the SSS page.

Most of the referrals to the SSS site are from the Yahoo! search engine. The most popular source of referrals other than from a search engine is from a site called Linguistic fun.

One can access all of the latest statistics for the SSS web site

In a recent report that covered the past five months, the SSS page had been visited 3100 times. This suggests that there are 620 visitors a month, but this statistic is probably inflated.

Counters are notoriously optimistic and can count a single visit multiple times. It also includes any visits made by the webmaster or author.

Only a fraction of those who get to the initial page are enticed to check out the site. Out of the 3100 who surfed to the index page, only 450 to 600 clicked thru to Brochures, Modern spelling, and Six axioms.

Cornell Kimball says this indicates that fewer than 20% of those who go to the home page go any farther: 80% do not visit any of the linked pages.

If this is true, it indicates that something needs to be done to the design of the page to hook the typical viewer. Suggestions from readers are welcomed.

A suggested topic for SSS site

Which spelling do you prefer [ ] give or [ ] giv?

This idea comes from a 1960s study of spelling preferences summarized in the Spelling Progress Bulletin. The results are rather disturbing since they suggest, if given a vote, over half would seek to retain the worst examples of 'stupid' spelling

Subjects were asked to rate various TO spellings (which were compared to a reform spelling) on a five-point scale where 5 ment they felt that TO spelling represented an optimum spelling pattern and 1 if TO left much to be desired.

Rule level	Spelling / Alternative	Average rating
graphemic	freeze / freez give / giv	4.28 3.71
phonotactic	fetch / fech wash / wosh	4.18 4.01
morphemic	walked / walkt dogs / dogz	3.22 4.71
syntactic	goose / goos add /ad	3.78 3.53
semantic	sign / syn (reference word)	3.53 signal

As might be expected, most people said freeze was a near perfect way to spell /fri:z/: average 4.28. Fewer thought that give was a near perfect way to spell /giv/: average 3.71. All of the scores are skewed toward near total satisfaction with conventional spelling. Few thought the suggested alternative was an improvement. Both the lowest and highest rating are found under morphemic regularity. No one wanted to change the plural but a few wanted to drop the regular past tense ending. On the web page, a test like this could be self scoring. Those who liked non-phonemic spelling could be automatically sent to a page which would justify the reformed spelling.

New spelling related URLS.

The find for this issue is the user frendly version of the spelling converter by Steven Bird

The CGI/Pearl script is available to anyone wanting to add this clever page to their web site. To convert to Cut Spelling, Fanetic, or Truespel, simply type in or cut and paste the text into the window. Click on convert and the text is converted to the selected notation. Unlike the original BTRSPL converter, this one does not have to be downloaded nor require any computer expertise. BTRSPL is still a component of the process, but in the background.

Here are other interesting sites:
This is a great site for people wishing to understand hieroglyphics. It is written at the K-6 level.
The Uniform English Society includes a draft of its notation (a variation of New Spelling).
Instructions for how to build a web page.

Tale peace.

Here today, ? tomorrow.

Sign projected on to the outside of the building
to promote the opening of the library's viewing galleries:

The British Library
For the nation's written heretage.

[Allan Campbell: see Journals, Newsletters, Media.]

simpl speling. July 1998 members' supplement.

With the increase in the number of pages for this issue, we have created this supplement, for in-house or other news for members. It is inserted in only those copies sent to members.

One of our aims is to make the eight page main section of general interest, not just for members, so it can be passed on confidently to others, and not be out of place in libraries, doctors' waiting rooms, etc. - Editor

April committee meeting.

Big saving likely from venue change.

Several suggestions for alternative meeting venues were discussed. A choice was made for the next two meetings: The International Friends House.
0fficers were elected as listed overleaf. In addition Tony Burns was appointed meetings secretary for the July meeting only; a decision was postponed on appointing a public relations officer; and Paul Fletcher and Tony Burns were reappointed PV coordinators.
Provisional meeting dates for next 12 months: July 25, October 31, January 23, April 17.
Paul Fletcher circulated a list of schemes that were in the pipeline. The committee supported Paul in his requests to members to submit PVs in the agreed format and printed out, camera ready. Paul has pointed out to some correspondents that SSS publishes PVs from members only. Tony Burns reported that PVs from George Lahey and Edward Rondthaler were nearly ready for circulation. Paul and Tony were thanked for their work.
Gerald Palmer suggested an advertisement in The Guardian educational section for £70. It was agreed to discuss this at the July meeting.

Wanted, by new SSS member: Regularized English, by Dr Axel Wijk; Almkvist & Wiksell, Stockholm. Offers to: Tom Lang.

At the AGM.

Continued membership growth reported:

Jean Hutchins, membership secretary, reported there were 125 names on the membership list, tho 33 had not yet paid their 1998 subscriptions. Sixteen new members had joined since the January committee meeting, mostly via the internet.
Alun Bye would serve as treasurer for one more year only. Frank Garnett was reappointed auditor. Both Alun and Frank were thanked for their services. The implications of selling some investments was discussed.
As postage rates outside Britain had risen it was suggested the subscription for members outside UK, particularly outside Europe, be increased. But it was agreed it remain at £10 for 1999. A plea was made to keep it at a rate that could be paid in notes, eg £10 rather than £12, as some members send cash. A new member suggested credit card payment, but the treasurer is not able to administer card facilities.
Editor-in-chief Chris Upward reported Simpl Speling tried to be positive on all efforts towards simplification; encouraged members to do what they could towards simplification; and tried to be an attractive publication. Thanks were expressed to editor Allan Campbell, and again to him and John Bryant for photocopying and posting SS.
Chris reported publication since the 1997 AGM was two Personal Views, three Simpl Spelings, two Journals, a Cut Spelling leaflet and pamphlet No. 15 Regularity and Irregularity in English Spelling. Chris thanked Edward Marchant for typography help.
Publicity had included: English Association Newsletter, the Langscape exercise, a letter in The Times Educational Supplement (which elicited two inquiries), mention in the Chicago Tribune, and Ron Footer had a letter in The Times which led to some inquiries. The meeting thanked Chris for his work. Altho the Society had no secretary, chairman Chris Jolly felt it was making progress. As a group it worked together well. He was confident reform would come. He observed it did not encounter ridicule as in the past.
Jean Hutchins was appointed honorary membership secretary (in the absence of a secretary), and Alan Bye honorary treasurer. John Bryant, Tony Burns, Leo Chapman, Paul Fletcher, Chris Jolly, Nicholas Kerr, Gwenllian Thorstad, and Chris Upward were appointed committee members. (During the subsequent committee meeting, David Barnsdale, Marie (Masha) Bell, and Gerald Palmer were co-opted.)
Valerie Yule's publicity proposals were discussed and referred to the development group. It was suggested she should present her spelling reform ideas as a PV.
Paul New wanted the Society to publish his views, which he estimated at about 60-70 pages. Chris Upward suggested he write a 500-word summary and try to persuade the committee it was worth publishing in full.
David Barnsdale suggested a pamphlet for a members' guide on points to put forward in favor of simplification. This was welcomed, and David was asked to consider writing it.

Officers and committee members 1998-99.

President: Professor D G Scragg.
Vice-presidents: Dr Edward Rondthaler, Lord Simon of Glaisdale, Professor John C Wells, Dr Valerie Yule.
Chairman: Chris Jolly.
Vice-chairman: Rev Nick Kerr.
Editor-in-chief and Literature secretary: Christopher Upward.
Research director: Dr Gwenllian Thorstad.
Membership secretary Jean Hutchins.
Treasurer Alun Bye.
Committee: David Barnsdale, Marie (Masha) Bell (Now also administrative support), John Bryant, Tony Burns, Leo Chapman, Paul Fletcher, Gerald Palmer.

[Masha Bell: see Journals, Newsletters, Leaflet, Media, Personal View.]

New member appointed as administrative support.

Marie (Masha) Bell has been appointed to the new position of administrative support in the Society. She has already taken up the part-time, paid appointment.

Masha (pronounced Marsha) is a new member and also a new committee member, having been co-opted at the April meeting.

Her roles will be defined and clarified as she settles into the job.

Masha is 53, married with two grown-up children. Originally from Lithuania, she has an English husband, is a graduate of Exeter University, and was a secondary school teacher for 18 years, teaching mainly German, but also English, Russian, and French.

She retired early from teaching three years ago because of a helth problem that is now cured. With time available, she wanted to take on a new venture with enthusiasm, and being paid for it would make a huge difference. This position seemed made for her needs, she says.

Chairman Chris Jolly, in announcing the appointment, said: 'Masha's submission to the Millennium Experience shows she is enthusiastic for the subject, able to develop good promotional ideas, and able to follow them thru very competently. I have congratulated her and I think she will do very well in the job.'

¶ Note: Jean Hutchins will remain membership secretary.

Committee changes venue The next SSS committee meeting is on July 25, 10:30am, at a new venue, the Quaker International Centre, All members are welcome.

PV guidelines for presentation of members' schemes as Personal Views are available from Paul Fletcher.

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On other pages: part 1, part 2, part 3.