Arika Okrent: Why is English so confusing?

Why is English so confusing?

Spelling reformers have been advocating for changes to make English spelling more intuitive and less irregular. One example of its messiness: take the “g-h” sound from “enough,” the “o” sound from “women” and the “t-i” sound from “action,” and you could argue that “g-h-o-t-i” spells “fish.” So, how did English get like this? Arika Okrent explores the complexity of English spelling conventions. [Directed by Emily Howells, Aaron Brady, narrated by Jack Cutmore-Scott, music by Aaron Brady].

English spelling’s infamous inconsistency is no accident; it is the result of centuries of linguistic collisions and evolving pronunciations. Words like 'dough,' once pronounced 'dach,' now bear spellings that reflect their long journey through Norman French, Latin scribes, and the printing press. Events like the Great Vowel Shift and the arrival of non-native printers froze oddities in place, leaving silent letters and mismatched sounds. This tangled origin story helps explain why English challenges learners and delights word lovers alike.