Children of the code: history of English language

Children of the code

7.Casting Spells (video 6:37)
- The printing press standardizes the unstable writing system ..."the accident of the printing press, which in England served to freeze spelling in the fifteenth century so you have these bizarre spellings" -
Dr. Malcolm Richardson, Chair, Department of English, LSU




Though readiness and readiness differentiated instruction reduce the difficulty, working through the code's confusing letter-sound relationships is what most challenges the brains of most struggling readers. There is a direct and causal relationship between the confusion in the code and the 'stutters' heard in the voice of a struggling reader. Obviously, understanding this confusion is critical to understanding the challenges involved in learning to read. As importantly, understanding how the code became so confused is critical to reframing the experience of struggling readers. The more we understand the accidents and negligence that led to the confusion in the English code the more it becomes obvious that it is absurdly negligent to blame and shame children for their struggle with it.

Latin Roots – The clergy begin to write English using the letters/sounds of Latin

French Rules – French displaces English as the official language of England

The King’s English – Henry V resurrects English writing

The Chancery Scribes – The King's scribes forge the roots of modern English

The First Millennium Bug – The fall of phoneticism and rise of confusion

The Great Vowel Shift – Major shifts in pronunciation add further confusion

Casting Spells - The printing press standardizes the unstable writing system



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