Comments
Please send your comments to allankii@starstream.net (click on the address)
Comment by Elizabeth Andrews, Australia, on ssslist@yahoogroups.com (Simplified Spelling Society), 15Dec09.
I recommend Allan Kiisk's Simpel-Fonetik to anyone who hasn't seen it. Simpel-Fonetik gives a lot of emphasis to the appropriateness of English for use as an international language, but at the same time respects the character of English, which a lot of reform schemes do not do. As far as whether it's improved English or a new writing system, I would call it improved English, but it does include the rewriting of several sounds in ways not in traditional English. Despite this it is surprisingly intuitive to read. There are one or two things I'm not totally happy with, but overall it seems very sensible and manages not to look stupid and ugly. I had my own proposal in the works but I might become a fan of Simpel-Fonetik instead!
Book review comment on Amazon.com website, 14Aug08, by Cole Ehmke, University of Wyoming.
A clearly described and practical method for writing English
The author makes a strong case that because English has so many peculiarities and is such a global language that we would be doing ourselves a service by bringing consistency and sense to it. This book introduces a method for writing that addresses English's issues and is based in the practical world. As a reader, I appreciate that the book gives information clearly and in context -- we're never left to guess where any proposed modification comes from. The Simpel-Fonetik method itself is clear (a single sound per letter), can be learned quickly and is immediately applicable.
This book left me feeling that where most authors seem to just give readers a high volume of words around any number of loosely aggregated topics, Allan Kiisk gives us clear thoughts with well chosen words that build a solution to a recurring problem.