Internalization of English Orthographic Patterns

Abstract

This paper examines 1) the patterns of regularity underlying the largely superficial chaos of English orthography, 2) the extent—or the lack—of internalization of both these patterns and the graphic representations of specific phonemes in different environments, 3) the reactions of literate native speakers as to the relative "rightness" or naturalness of the different phoneme-grapheme correspondences in these situations, and 4) the reactions of these informants to recognition tests involving alternative solutions to certain special problems involved in English spelling reform—such as lexicographic separation of agnates, polymorphic representation of inflectional affixes, and graphic distinction of homophones.