Nynorn Alphabet: Runic, Latin, or Other?
Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2012 8:44 pm
As an author, I spend a lot of time thinking about the forms and functions of the English language. I don't think there is anyone who would argue that English has problems, but we're here to talk about Nynorn, not English. However, English is an excellent example of a script gone wrong. If one does a serious study into the forms of the English language, they will find that it is rife with a ridiculous quantity of mind bending conjuctions. Let me give you a few: sh, ph, th, ch, -sion, -tion, dj, ng, etc...
Now these may not seem strange at first, until one realizes that the only reason we have these conjuctions is because the Latin alphabet is severely lacking when it comes to phonetic sounds. Russia conquered this problem nearly a thousand years ago when St. Cyril and St. Methodius, missionaries to the Slavs, wanted to translate the New Testament in the Slavic language. Since the Slavs had no written language of their own, the two saints tried to adapt the Greek alphabet to their purpose. However, the Slavic languages where far richer in phonetic sounds than was Greek, so rather than create Mephistic conjunctions, they instead used Greek as a base, and invented a handful of new letters to fill in the gaps. To this day Russian is one of the simplest languages to learn to read due to the fact that every word is spelled absolutely phonetically, whereas written English is one of the hardest to learn. I am not suggesting that we start trying to change English now--it's far to late for that. However, in that we are endeavoring to resurrect a dead language, we have an oportunity to create a script to fit it.
Arguments to the con would say that the Latin alphabet is the alphabet of the world and we need to stick to it for the sake of simplicity.
Arguments to the pro would say that creating a script especially suited to the language would make it easier to learn, and would add a solidity to pronounciation that English is sorely lacking. Latin would be a poor choice in that Nynorn is richer in sounds that Latin, but so also would be the younger or elder Futhark runes.
We have a choice to make. We could:
1) stay with Latin letters and be forced to use a mountain of irritating and alien conjunctions.
2) alter Latin like the Russians and add new letters.
3) alter Futhark and add the appropriate runes.
4) create an entirely new script that is specially suited to the language.
5) find another option.
Which of these five would you choose? I am willing to help devise whatever system the Nynorn community chooses. HOWEVER: I must and will insist that you make your choice based on what you think will make the language most easily learned and utilized by the common man. DO NOT base your choice merely on what you think would be cool or fun. Resurrecting a language is a serious (albeit fun) business, and we need to treat it as such.
Please cast your vote!
Now these may not seem strange at first, until one realizes that the only reason we have these conjuctions is because the Latin alphabet is severely lacking when it comes to phonetic sounds. Russia conquered this problem nearly a thousand years ago when St. Cyril and St. Methodius, missionaries to the Slavs, wanted to translate the New Testament in the Slavic language. Since the Slavs had no written language of their own, the two saints tried to adapt the Greek alphabet to their purpose. However, the Slavic languages where far richer in phonetic sounds than was Greek, so rather than create Mephistic conjunctions, they instead used Greek as a base, and invented a handful of new letters to fill in the gaps. To this day Russian is one of the simplest languages to learn to read due to the fact that every word is spelled absolutely phonetically, whereas written English is one of the hardest to learn. I am not suggesting that we start trying to change English now--it's far to late for that. However, in that we are endeavoring to resurrect a dead language, we have an oportunity to create a script to fit it.
Arguments to the con would say that the Latin alphabet is the alphabet of the world and we need to stick to it for the sake of simplicity.
Arguments to the pro would say that creating a script especially suited to the language would make it easier to learn, and would add a solidity to pronounciation that English is sorely lacking. Latin would be a poor choice in that Nynorn is richer in sounds that Latin, but so also would be the younger or elder Futhark runes.
We have a choice to make. We could:
1) stay with Latin letters and be forced to use a mountain of irritating and alien conjunctions.
2) alter Latin like the Russians and add new letters.
3) alter Futhark and add the appropriate runes.
4) create an entirely new script that is specially suited to the language.
5) find another option.
Which of these five would you choose? I am willing to help devise whatever system the Nynorn community chooses. HOWEVER: I must and will insist that you make your choice based on what you think will make the language most easily learned and utilized by the common man. DO NOT base your choice merely on what you think would be cool or fun. Resurrecting a language is a serious (albeit fun) business, and we need to treat it as such.
Please cast your vote!