VOWELS REPRESENTATION OUTLINE (for modification)
SHORT VOWELS(when stressed)(in a closed syllable) cf. consonant dubbling
Short-A : usually spelled with "a"(cat, happen, passion).
Modification Target : "ai"(plaid), "au"(laugh), "ua"(guarantee, guaranty).
Short-E : usually spelled with "e"(best, cell, net).
Modification Target : "a"(any,many), "ea"(head), "ei"(heifer), "eo"(leopard), "ie"(friend).
It is better to retain "ai" as in "again" and "against".
Short-I : usually spelled with "i"(hit, hidden, skip).
Modification Target : "e"(pretty), "ie"(sieve), "u"(busy), "y"(sympathy,rhythm).
We have to retain "been", a very basic word.
Short-O : usually spelled with "o"(hot, shock, top).
Modification Target : "yacht"
It is better to retain "a" as in "quality" and "watch".
Short-U : usually spelled with "u"(cut, butter, must).
Modification Target : "o"(other), "oo"(flood), "ou"(young). Additionally, "flourish" and "nourish".
It is better to retain some words, such as "some" and "son", because each of them has a homofone.
LONG VOWELS
Long-A should be usually spelled with "a*e"(brake), "a"(basic), "ai"(rain), "ay"(way), and "ey"(obey).
Modification Target : "a" as in "bass"(music term), "au" as in "gauge", "ea" as in "break", "eig-" as in "reign", "eigh" as in "weigh" and "weight".
When the letter "e" is used for the Long-A sound, we do not change it. e.g.: fete, menage, mesa
As for "ei" as in "beige", "seine", "vein", we do not change them.
We still have "angel", "ancient", "chamber", "hasten", "table", "taste", etc.
Long-E : usually spelled with "e*e"(mete), "e"(meter), "ea"(sea), and "ee"(free).
Modification Target : "ei"(receipt), "ie"(siege), "ae"(Aegis), "oe"(coelacanth), "eo"(people), "ey"(key), and "ay"(quay).
We have to retain "either" and "leisure". Each of them has more than one pronunciation.
When "i" has the "ee" sound(e.g. visa), it is better to retain it. However, "ski" should be spelled "skee".
Long-I/Y : usually spelled with "i*e"(kite), "-y*e"(style), "i"(hi), "-y"(by), "-ie"(tie), "-ye"(bye), "-igh"(high), and "-uy"(buy).
Occasionally spelled with "ei"(kaleidoscope).
Modification Target : "climb", "indictment", "island", "psych", "sleight".
How do we deal with "child", "mild", "kind", "pint", etc.?
We still have {aisle, eider, eye, feisty, haiku, seismic, zeitgeist}.
Long-O : usually spelled with "o*e"(vote), "o"(go), "oa"(road), "oe"(toe), and unstable "ow"(bow). Occasionally spelled with "oh"(ohm).
Modification Target : "ew"(sew), "ow" before a consonant (bowl, own), "ou"(soul, shoulder), "ough"(dough), "o"(comb, ghost, scroll).
We retain some basic words, such as "both", "most", and "old".
We retain some French loans that have AU with long-O sound. e.g. au pair, gauche.
Long-U : usually spelled with "u*e"(fuse), "u"(mu, unity), "-ue"(due), "eu"(feudal), "ew"(new).
Modification Target : "eau"(beautiful), "-iew"(view), "ou"(coupon), "ui"(fruit).
We retain "ewe", "yew", and "you".
SOME OTHER VOWELS
Short-OO sound : usually spelled with "oo"(book). Occasionally, with "u"(push).
Modification Target : "o"(bosom, wolf), "oul"(could, should, would).
We retain "u" with the short-OO sound. e.g. bush, cushion, pull.
Long-OO sound : usually spelled with "oo"(taboo). Occasionally, with "u"(rule), "ew"(crew), etc.
Modification Target : "o"(move), "oe"(canoe, shoe), "ou"(group, soup).
However, we might have to retain spellings of menny words that came from French.
Broad-A : usually spelled with "a"(father, spa). Occasionally, with "aa" and "ah".
Modification Target : not found
"AU" sound[o:](as in "law") : usually spelled with "au"(pause), "augh"(caught), and "aw"(awful). We still have "call" and "talk".
Modification Target : "a"(water), "oa"(broad), and "-ough-"(followed by "t") as in "brought", "fought", "sought", etc.
However, the word "ought" has to remain the same.
"OI" sound(as in "voice") : usually spelled with "oi" and "oy".
Modification Target : not found
We have to retain "buoy". This can be pronounced as "booy".
"OU" sound(as in "out") : usually spelled with "ou" and "ow".
Modification Target : "doubt" and "drought".
We have to retain "gaucho" and "gauss". It is no good trying to use "ou" or "ow", as these two are ambiguous.
Shwa Sound
Some individual changes are unavoidable. Examples are "pageant"(drop A), "sergeant(drop A)", "vengeance(drop A)", and "parliament"(drop I).
We might be able to use "-gion" insted of "-geon" when it is pronounced with a shwa. e.g.: dungeon, pigeon, surgeon.
Furthermore, how do we deal with "biscuit", "circuit", "captain", "certain", "curtain", "mountain", "foreign", and "sovereign"?
VOWELS THAT ARE FOLLOWED BY "R"
Shwa+R sound
Basically, American spellings are preferable to British ones.
ER/IR/UR sound(not followed by any vowel letter)
Modification Target : "ear"(learn), "or"(attorney), "our"(journal, nourish), and "ir"(when hard G is followed by "ir"---e.g. gird, girl).
Additionally, "colonel".
AR sound(as in "car") : usually spelled with "ar"(not followed by any vowel letter)(e.g. bar, card, martial).
Modification Target : "are"(as in "You are ..."), "ear"(heart, hearth).
AIR sound(as in "fair") : usually spelled with "air"(pair, stair) and "-are"(bare, care). Occasionally with "eir"(their, heir).
Modification Target : "-ear" as in "bear" and "swear".
Additionally, "aerial", "prayer", and "scarce".
We should retain "there" and "where"(cf. here). "Ampere" and "compere", too.
EER sound(as in "beer") : usually spelled with "-ere"(mere), "ear"(hear), and "eer"(deer). Occasionally, with "-eir"(weir) and "-ier"(pier).
Modification Target : "eir"(weir,weird), "ear" before a consonant(beard), "-ier-"(fierce).
IRE sound(as in "fire") : usually spelled with "ire"(hire). Occasionally, with "ier"(lier). cf. liar
Modification Target : "fiery"---cf. fire
OR/ORE sound : usually spelled with "or"(nor), "oar"(soar), and "ore"(sore). Occasionally, with "-aur"(dinosaur).
Modification Target : "-oor"(door,floor), "-our"(court,four,mourn,pour).
URE sound can be spelled with "-ure"(cure,pure), "eur"(euro), "ewer"(fewer).
Modification Target : not found
OOR sound can be spelled with "-oor"(boor) and "-our"(tour).
Modification Target(if you like) : "tour", "tourism", and "tourist".
OUR sound can be spelled with "our"(hour,sour) and "-ower"(power,tower).
Modification Target : not found
SHORT VOWELS(when stressed)(in a closed syllable) cf. consonant dubbling
Short-A : usually spelled with "a"(cat, happen, passion).
Modification Target : "ai"(plaid), "au"(laugh), "ua"(guarantee, guaranty).
Short-E : usually spelled with "e"(best, cell, net).
Modification Target : "a"(any,many), "ea"(head), "ei"(heifer), "eo"(leopard), "ie"(friend).
It is better to retain "ai" as in "again" and "against".
Short-I : usually spelled with "i"(hit, hidden, skip).
Modification Target : "e"(pretty), "ie"(sieve), "u"(busy), "y"(sympathy,rhythm).
We have to retain "been", a very basic word.
Short-O : usually spelled with "o"(hot, shock, top).
Modification Target : "yacht"
It is better to retain "a" as in "quality" and "watch".
Short-U : usually spelled with "u"(cut, butter, must).
Modification Target : "o"(other), "oo"(flood), "ou"(young). Additionally, "flourish" and "nourish".
It is better to retain some words, such as "some" and "son", because each of them has a homofone.
LONG VOWELS
Long-A should be usually spelled with "a*e"(brake), "a"(basic), "ai"(rain), "ay"(way), and "ey"(obey).
Modification Target : "a" as in "bass"(music term), "au" as in "gauge", "ea" as in "break", "eig-" as in "reign", "eigh" as in "weigh" and "weight".
When the letter "e" is used for the Long-A sound, we do not change it. e.g.: fete, menage, mesa
As for "ei" as in "beige", "seine", "vein", we do not change them.
We still have "angel", "ancient", "chamber", "hasten", "table", "taste", etc.
Long-E : usually spelled with "e*e"(mete), "e"(meter), "ea"(sea), and "ee"(free).
Modification Target : "ei"(receipt), "ie"(siege), "ae"(Aegis), "oe"(coelacanth), "eo"(people), "ey"(key), and "ay"(quay).
We have to retain "either" and "leisure". Each of them has more than one pronunciation.
When "i" has the "ee" sound(e.g. visa), it is better to retain it. However, "ski" should be spelled "skee".
Long-I/Y : usually spelled with "i*e"(kite), "-y*e"(style), "i"(hi), "-y"(by), "-ie"(tie), "-ye"(bye), "-igh"(high), and "-uy"(buy).
Occasionally spelled with "ei"(kaleidoscope).
Modification Target : "climb", "indictment", "island", "psych", "sleight".
How do we deal with "child", "mild", "kind", "pint", etc.?
We still have {aisle, eider, eye, feisty, haiku, seismic, zeitgeist}.
Long-O : usually spelled with "o*e"(vote), "o"(go), "oa"(road), "oe"(toe), and unstable "ow"(bow). Occasionally spelled with "oh"(ohm).
Modification Target : "ew"(sew), "ow" before a consonant (bowl, own), "ou"(soul, shoulder), "ough"(dough), "o"(comb, ghost, scroll).
We retain some basic words, such as "both", "most", and "old".
We retain some French loans that have AU with long-O sound. e.g. au pair, gauche.
Long-U : usually spelled with "u*e"(fuse), "u"(mu, unity), "-ue"(due), "eu"(feudal), "ew"(new).
Modification Target : "eau"(beautiful), "-iew"(view), "ou"(coupon), "ui"(fruit).
We retain "ewe", "yew", and "you".
SOME OTHER VOWELS
Short-OO sound : usually spelled with "oo"(book). Occasionally, with "u"(push).
Modification Target : "o"(bosom, wolf), "oul"(could, should, would).
We retain "u" with the short-OO sound. e.g. bush, cushion, pull.
Long-OO sound : usually spelled with "oo"(taboo). Occasionally, with "u"(rule), "ew"(crew), etc.
Modification Target : "o"(move), "oe"(canoe, shoe), "ou"(group, soup).
However, we might have to retain spellings of menny words that came from French.
Broad-A : usually spelled with "a"(father, spa). Occasionally, with "aa" and "ah".
Modification Target : not found
"AU" sound[o:](as in "law") : usually spelled with "au"(pause), "augh"(caught), and "aw"(awful). We still have "call" and "talk".
Modification Target : "a"(water), "oa"(broad), and "-ough-"(followed by "t") as in "brought", "fought", "sought", etc.
However, the word "ought" has to remain the same.
"OI" sound(as in "voice") : usually spelled with "oi" and "oy".
Modification Target : not found
We have to retain "buoy". This can be pronounced as "booy".
"OU" sound(as in "out") : usually spelled with "ou" and "ow".
Modification Target : "doubt" and "drought".
We have to retain "gaucho" and "gauss". It is no good trying to use "ou" or "ow", as these two are ambiguous.
Shwa Sound
Some individual changes are unavoidable. Examples are "pageant"(drop A), "sergeant(drop A)", "vengeance(drop A)", and "parliament"(drop I).
We might be able to use "-gion" insted of "-geon" when it is pronounced with a shwa. e.g.: dungeon, pigeon, surgeon.
Furthermore, how do we deal with "biscuit", "circuit", "captain", "certain", "curtain", "mountain", "foreign", and "sovereign"?
VOWELS THAT ARE FOLLOWED BY "R"
Shwa+R sound
Basically, American spellings are preferable to British ones.
ER/IR/UR sound(not followed by any vowel letter)
Modification Target : "ear"(learn), "or"(attorney), "our"(journal, nourish), and "ir"(when hard G is followed by "ir"---e.g. gird, girl).
Additionally, "colonel".
AR sound(as in "car") : usually spelled with "ar"(not followed by any vowel letter)(e.g. bar, card, martial).
Modification Target : "are"(as in "You are ..."), "ear"(heart, hearth).
AIR sound(as in "fair") : usually spelled with "air"(pair, stair) and "-are"(bare, care). Occasionally with "eir"(their, heir).
Modification Target : "-ear" as in "bear" and "swear".
Additionally, "aerial", "prayer", and "scarce".
We should retain "there" and "where"(cf. here). "Ampere" and "compere", too.
EER sound(as in "beer") : usually spelled with "-ere"(mere), "ear"(hear), and "eer"(deer). Occasionally, with "-eir"(weir) and "-ier"(pier).
Modification Target : "eir"(weir,weird), "ear" before a consonant(beard), "-ier-"(fierce).
IRE sound(as in "fire") : usually spelled with "ire"(hire). Occasionally, with "ier"(lier). cf. liar
Modification Target : "fiery"---cf. fire
OR/ORE sound : usually spelled with "or"(nor), "oar"(soar), and "ore"(sore). Occasionally, with "-aur"(dinosaur).
Modification Target : "-oor"(door,floor), "-our"(court,four,mourn,pour).
URE sound can be spelled with "-ure"(cure,pure), "eur"(euro), "ewer"(fewer).
Modification Target : not found
OOR sound can be spelled with "-oor"(boor) and "-our"(tour).
Modification Target(if you like) : "tour", "tourism", and "tourist".
OUR sound can be spelled with "our"(hour,sour) and "-ower"(power,tower).
Modification Target : not found