List of language reforms of English
Over the years, many people have called for language reform of the English language. Various types of reforms have been proposed.
Spelling reforms[edit]
Spelling reforms are attempts to regularise English spelling, whether by enforcing a regular set of rules, or by replacing the basic English alphabet with a new one. English spelling reforms include:
Using the basic English alphabet:
- Cut Spelling
- Parallel English
- Handbook of Simplified Spelling
- SoundSpel
- Spelling Reform step 1 (SR1)
- SaypU (Spell As You Pronounce Universally)
- Simpel-Fonetik method of writing
- Traditional Spelling Revised
Extending or replacing the basic English alphabet:
- Benjamin Franklin's phonetic alphabet
- Deseret alphabet
- Initial Teaching Alphabet
- Interspel
- Romic alphabet
- Shavian alphabet (revised version: Quikscript)
- Unifon
Subsets[edit]
Subsets are reforms that use a restricted wordlist and grammar. English subsets include:
- Attempto Controlled English
- Basic English
- E-Prime
- Globish
- Plain English
- Simplified English
- Special English
- Specialised English
Vocabulary reforms[edit]
Vocabulary reforms seek to reform English by changing or restricting its words without changing its grammar.
- Anglish: the use of native (Germanic) words only, and spellings of such without foreign influence—a form of linguistic purism