This book provides an outline history of English spelling from the Anglo-Saxon’ adoption of the Roman alphabet to the present day. It shows the respective influences on modern usage of native French and Latin orthographies and attempts a definition of the manner in which spelling stabilised. A final chapter traces changing notions of correctness in spelling during the last four centuries, and also gives a summary of the principle movements for its reform in favour of a more consistent and phonetic system of notion.

Students in higher education specialising in English or linguistics and also those studying other languages ... Read moreat an advanced level should find this a useful book. The general reader with an interest in the history of his language or the question of spelling will find it most readable