English Spelling and Phonemic Representation

There are at least three different ways that spelling can affect phonemic representation: (1) spelling pronunciations; (2) resolving the ambiguities due to phonemic overlap; and (3) influencing speakers' interpretations of general phonetic sequences. This last case has important consequences for phonological theory, since linguistic arguments are usually based on adult perceptions of phonemic representation -representation which has been influenced by the orthography. In this paper I will discuss the effects of spelling on English phonology. 1 Within recent years, orthographic evidence, especially the naive spellings of young children, have been used to support certain phonemic representations. In this paper I hope to identify certain dangers that may arise if such evidence is used indiscriminately. In particular, I will argue that children's phonemic perceptions are frequently different than those of adults (even when there is no difference in pronunciation) and that orthography is responsible for many of the differences in adult perceptions of phonemic representation. 1. The most well-known effect that spelling can have on phonemic representation is SPELLING PRONUNCIATION. Spelling pronunciations have their origin in spelling exceptions. A spelling exception can be eliminated in two different ways: either the spelling can be changed so that it agrees with the pronunciation; or, vice versa, the pronunciation can be changed so that it agrees with the spelling. This second case results in a spelling pronunciation. Consider, for instance, the word often. For most speakers of English, the t in this word is silent and has been for the last couple centuries. In Middle English the t was pronounced, but due to a regular sound change the t in the consonant sequence /ftn/ was lost, so that by the eighteenth century, often was consistently pronounced as /ifan/ (Jespersen 1970:225). This spelling exception could be removed by changing the pronunciation. Or the spelling could remain constant and the pronunciation change, thus producing the spelling pronunciation /~fton/. Two important properties of spelling pronunciation should be recognized. The first is that spelling pronunciations tend to revive pronunciations which existed earlier in the language. This is due to the conservative nature of English spelling -that is, English spelling itself is based on earlier pronunciation. Historical change introduces irregularities in the sound-letter correspondences and spelling pronunciation frequently acts to contradict historical change and re-create historical pronunciations. Thus the spelling pronunciation of often as /~ftan/ reflects an earlier pronunciation of this word. The second property is that spelling pronunciation is idiosyncratic -that Copyright 1980 by Royal Skousen. Used by permission.