English Language

[Eki]

Why does the English language sound so much different when it's spoken than when it's written?

Yesterday someone on TV said "pair of shoes" and I first heard it as "parachutes". They look totally different when written but at least to me they sound quite similar. That could cause dangerous misunderstandings. Imagine that one day someone doing a parachute jump may find out that in his backpack was a pair of shoes instead of a parachute.

[Mark]

Yes, English does have quite a large disconnect between the written words and the spoken. Whereas other languages such as Spanish (I believe), words are pretty much spelled as they are spoken.

Languges evolve and the way words are used and pronounced changes over time, but the written language is much more difficult to change, I believe in the likes of Spain they do change spellings of words to make them fit and it's also why Spanish children are much better at spelling!

[Mark]

Yes, English does have quite a large disconnect between the written words and the spoken. Whereas other languages such as Spanish (I believe), words are pretty much spelled as they are spoken.

Languges evolve and the way words are used and pronounced changes over time, but the written language is much more difficult to change, I believe in the likes of Spain they do change spellings of words to make them fit and it's also why Spanish children are much better at spelling!

[gadjo_dilo]

Yes, English does have quite a large disconnect between the written words and the spoken. Whereas other languages such as Spanish (I believe), words are pretty much spelled as they are spoken.

Languges evolve and the way words are used and pronounced changes over time, but the written language is much more difficult to change, I believe in the likes of Spain they do change spellings of words to make them fit and it's also why Spanish children are much better at spelling!

I don't know spanish. However I've noticed some strange pronunciation of X, B and V.

[Eki]

I don't know spanish. However I've noticed some strange pronunciation of X, B and V.

And J. For example Jose is pronounced as Hose.

[Cooper_S]

Is it not pronounced Ho-say,

[donKey jote]

I believe in the likes of Spain they do change spellings of words to make them fit

One of my favourite Spanishwords is "Güisqui"

b and v sound exactly the same so are prone to spelling mistakes...

y and ll sound almost the same so ditto...

c is pronounced as a k if it's before an a, o or u... or as an z or an s depending on where you`re from otherwise...

you have accents...

otherwise Spanish spelling is simple

[Cooper_S]

All languages evolves and English as spoken in the United Kingdom is pronounced a variety of ways depending upon where in the country you are.

American English seems to have simplified spelling and pronunciation...

http://wimp.com/haspoint/

[Cooper_S]

does spelling matter...?

http://wimp.com/spellingmatters/

[Mark]

Smtmes if u lve ltrs ot it cn b uderstd. But otherwise spelling is important otherwise how will people know what you're saying?!