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From: grass@uiucdcsb.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.nlang
Subject: Re: Phonetic spelling
Message-ID: <10500031@uiucdcsb.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 26-Nov-84 10:24:00 EST
Article-I.D.: uiucdcsb.10500031
Posted: Mon Nov 26 10:24:00 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 28-Nov-84 01:59:36 EST
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Nf-From: uiucdcsb!grass    Nov 26 09:24:00 1984

<chomp>
I am an ex-linguist (of the Slavic sub-species).  The study of spelling
and writing systems played only an infinitesimal portion of my studies.
Linguists are, in general, much more interested in spoken language
than in written language.  Since a good deal of the study concentrates
on phonology and morphology, probably IPA (International Phonetic
Alphabet) is a better medium for linguists than any real orthography.
Even syntax study, if you go to "underlying representations", isn't 
very well served by conventional spellings.

I don't know what branch of linguistics gets into orthography.  In 8
years of study, I think we might have talked about this for only a 
few hours.

Sociolinguists like talking about spelling reforms, etc.  They
certainly are a point where sociology (and politics) intersect 
with language.  (That's why we can all flame about this stuff.
Just try proposing reforms of the English verb tense formations,
or advocating the return of the subjunctive).

				-- Judy