mologic blunders; and that it would not "obscure derivation" to those familiar enuf with other languages to derive plesure or benefit from tracing English words to foren or ancient sources.
Interesting to Few
How many of those who use English know anything about its etimology, or about the languages that hav contributed to its vocabulary? What percentage of college-graduates, even, has sufficient acquaintance with Anglo-Saxon, Old German, Old French, the Romance languages, for example, to find our present unpronounceable spelling of any real service to their better understanding of their nativ tung? Opposition to spelling-reform on etimologic grounds most frequently comes from those who hav some familiarity with Latin and Greek, but who seem to be unaware, or to ignore, that a large proportion of the words we commonly use ar derived from other than "classical" sources.
Etimologists hav alredy discoverd and recorded the essential facts in regard to the history and derivation of English words. This information is available to all who ar interested in the subject. Such questions as remain open wil be settld without reference to the present or future spelling of English.
Present Meaning Important
Knowledge of the derivation of words, moreover, is often misleading as to their present meaning. What possible help can it be to the correct use of the word prevent, for example, to know that it comes from a Latin word meaning to precede, to go before, and had that meaning at first in English?
