Making Sense of English Spelling

This week, we also began a systematic exploration of the English spelling system. English spelling is often categorized as being random or filled with confusing rules and exceptions. When English spelling is understood as indicating the history, structure, and meaning of the word, the spelling begins to make far more sense.
We looked at the word “sign” and asked where the “g” came from since we clearly don’t hear it. Using a historical lens, we found its Latin root signare. We then began making connections between sign, signal, design, and signature based on their meaning and structure.

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