'ghoti' · The Spectator · Tom Burkard

Why ‘ghoti’ is a red herring

In my last posting, I wrote that Rod Liddle’s invocation of ‘ghoti’ as a way of spelling ‘fish’ – ostensibly to demonstrate how ‘unphonetic’ (ridiculous term!) English is – was nonsensical. I also wrote that the notion had been entirely discredited. Well, apparently not! Some of my readers have informed me that they are confronted… Continue reading Why ‘ghoti’ is a red herring

phonics · Rod Liddle · The Spectator

A Liddle knowledge is a dangerous thing!

I quite like Rod Liddle’s column every week in the Spectator. He usually makes me laugh. Sometimes out loud! This week began as no exception. In ‘My daughter’s end-of-term report confirms that she is being taught by alien reptiles‘, he got the ball rolling by deprecating the ‘vacuous propaganda’ emitted by teacher training institutions before… Continue reading A Liddle knowledge is a dangerous thing!