A plea for phonetic spelling, or, The necessity of orthographic reform

Abstract

The favour bestowed on the first edition of this little work, (under the title of a Plea for Phonotypy and Phonography; or, Speech-Printing and Speech-writing, of which more than three thousand copies were sold,) has induced the Author to spare no pains in improving the present second edition. The Great Progress that has been made in the Cause of Phonetic Spelling, since the publication of the first edition; and the continual increase that the number of its Advocates, and, therefore, of its Opponents, is still receiving; render it imperative upon the Original Promoters of the New Orthographic System, for which they are now pleading, to furnish a Copious Development of the objects of Phoneticism, and of the Great Advantages which will accrue from its adoption; together with a Detailed Explanation of the Evils engendered by the Extraordinary Style of Spelling which it is proposed to supplant, and a Refutation of the-usual Arguments adduced by the friends of that style of orthography, for its defence, and to the prejudice of Phonetic Spelling. In order to accomplish these objects, in a manner suited to the wants of the present state of the Phonetic Reform, it was found necessary to enlarge the Plea to six times its original size; and to increase the Tables, both in number and importance; in re-composing which, the Author has received much assistance from several kind friends, to whom he begs to tender his best thanks. Great attention has been paid, to ensure correctness in printing these Tables, for the Author feels that they form the great and insuperable argument in favour of a change in our orthography... [Excerpt]