Sweet is sweeping us!
In the last quarter of the 19th century, Henry Sweet stated that English sound has been undergoing so many changes. He observes the unexpected way in which the pronunciation diversify and touches on the future of English.
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Indeed, many of these changes are already in
progress. I have myself heard take time
pronounced in a way which made it sound not very unlike tike tarm, and this from speakers who, although not very refined,
certainly belonged to the upper middle class.
The result of these and similar changes will
be that in another century any fixed scheme of reform adopted now will be
nearly as unphonetic as our present Nomic spelling. It must also be remembered
that by that time England, America, and Australia will be speaking mutually unintelligible languages, owing to their independent changes of pronunciation.
The only way to meet these evils is strictly
to subordinate spelling to pronunciation. (196)
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He fears that English speakers of England, America, and Australia will some day fail to communicate each other. It is interesting that he then describes "their independent changes of pronunciation" as "evils."
Almost a hundred year later, such "evils" are sweeping the world. I wonder how he feels about it.
Almost a hundred year later, such "evils" are sweeping the world. I wonder how he feels about it.
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Works Cited:
Sweet, Henry. A Handbook of Phonetics. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1877.
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