1. Overview
2. A Celebration of Variation
3. Creative Spellings
4. The Sound System
5. The Writing System
6. Origins and Evolutions
7. Discovering Regularity
8. Consonant Patterns
9. Vowel Patterns
10. Morphophonemics
11. Spelling Reform
12. Teaching Phonics
Glossary
Richard L. Venezky is the Unidel Professor of Educational Studies at the University of Delaware, where he holds joint appointments in linguistics and computer and information sciences. In addition to his academic position, he works with the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, DC, and directs an educational technology project for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in Paris. He lives in Newark, Delaware, and in Sag Harbor, New York, with his wife, Councilwoman Karen G. Venezky.
Spoken language, move over--writing has earned equal presence. This
inspiring work makes transparent the hidden structure of written
language. Venezky's measured guidance on reading instruction is
most timely. Language scholars, teachers, and anyone who
appreciates the written word will covet this book. --Dominic W.
Massaro, PhD, University of California, Santa Cruz
The reading wars have outlasted virtually every other world
conflict, mostly because the combatants have only a vague idea of
what they are fighting about. Venezky's account of the nature of
the English spelling-sound system may not end the wars, but it
helps those of us who have to keep the world going--scholars,
researchers, teachers, and teacher educators. Teachers and students
who immerse themselves in this volume will view the world of
spelling and phonics through much clearer lenses. An absolute 'must
read.' --Robert Calfee, PhD, Dean, School of Education, University
of California, Riverside
Venezky has written an immensely interesting and informative book
on American English spelling. It covers a broad range of topics,
moving gracefully from the historical origins of the 26 letters to
the regularities and irregularities of spelling in food and drink
words, and ending with the rules of spelling useful for teaching
phonics to beginning readers. My favorite line: 'No hand of
consistency ever stoked the spelling engine for English.' --Jeanne
S. Chall, PhD, Professor of Education, Emeritus, Graduate School of
Education, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Few writers on educational topics can resist the temptation to
admonish and advise, especially when the topic is reading. 'What
is' tends to take second place to 'what ought to be' in the eyes of
such critics. Venezky's thorough and engaging analysis of how
spelling patterns relate to spoken language and to reading manages
to escape this temptation, providing a basis for clear thinking
about the issues. --David R. Olson, PhD, Professor of Human
Development and Applied Psychology, Ontario Institute for Studies
in Education of the University of Toronto
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