Lecture 31: Spelling as a Vocabulary Tool
a silent letter, even though the pattern chosen is not the correct
one for this particular word.ż In literacy studies, this is called “using but confusing,” that is,
using one vowel pattern but confusing it in another word.Meaning Layer
z Throughout this course, we’ve tapped into the power of the meaning
OD\HUWKURXJKRXUVWXG\RIKLJKXWLOLW\/DWLQDQG*UHHNDI¿[HVDQG
roots, such as cide/cise (“kill”) and spect (“see”). And we know
how to apply the spelling-meaning connection. For example, when
we notice the spelling of the root spect in the word circumspect, it
can be a clue to the word’s meaning. Those who are circumspect
“look around” and are cautious.z If the alphabetic layer of our spelling system was established with
the Anglo-Saxons in Old English, and if the pattern layer was
established after the Norman Conquest, when did all the classical
URRWVLQWKHPHDQLQJOD\HUFRPHLQWRWKH(QJOLVKVSHOOLQJV\VWHP"
The answer is during the Renaissance.z The explosion of new knowledge during the Renaissance created a
demand for new vocabulary. And with the rediscovery and renewed
LQWHUHVWLQWKH*UHHNDQG/DWLQFXOWXUHVWKHDI¿[HVDQGURRWVRI
Latin and Greek seemed to be the perfect tools to meet this demand.z Let’s close by exploring a powerful spelling pattern in the meaning
layer. The following four words have the -uble VXI¿[ EXW LW LV
sometimes spelled a-b-l-e and sometimes spelled i-b-l-e: affordable,
credible, visible, reasonable.
ż Notice that if we take the -uble off and are left with a standalone
base word, as in affordable or reasonable, the spelling is
probably a-b-l-e. If we take the -uble off and are left with a
root that cannot stand alone, the spelling is probably i-b-l-e, as
in credible and visible.