Korean is held up as an example of the way to establish a sensible writing system instead of evolving a mishmash like most languages. IIRC King So-and-so got a committee together, came up with something logical and simple, and imposed it. On the subject of messes, I recently learned about some words in French which change their gender or basic meaning when plural... On Tue, 4 Mar 2003, Ruhlen, Rachel Louise (UMC-Student) wrote: > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Dr. Elmo [mailto:dr.elmo at whiterose.org] > > Sent: Friday, February 28, 2003 9:39 AM > > To: dragaera at dragaera.info > > Subject: RE: Question about Devera > > > > > > Jag wondered aloud: > > >Add this to my list of reasons[0] why I wish English had a > > phonetic >alphabet. > > > > Reasons why English shouldn't have a phonetic alphabet. > > Didn't the chinese try to simplify their language? And it didn't work so > well, at least the author of whatever I was reading about it seemed to > have that impression. > > Rachel >