Google brought this thread to my attention and I can't help making a few observations. Learning 7 languages made it clear to me that the ease of learning to read depends mainly on the consistency of the spelling system in which this happens. The adoption of Pinyin in China is clear proof of that. I found English spelling furthest removed from the alphabetic principle of representing speech sounds in a regular manner and hardest to cope with http://englishspellingproblems.blogspot.co.uk. I am certain that a few well-aimed changes could make learning to read English much easier http://improvingenglishspelling.blogspot.co.uk and used to advocate this, but at 80 have come to realise that the chances of it happening are slim, but think that it's important for more people, especially teachers, to understand what an exceptionally flawed spelling system English has and how it ended up like that http://englishspellingproblems.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/histor...