How I discovered the Shavian alphabet and why I love it

𐑣𐑬 𐑲 𐑛𐑦𐑕𐑒𐑳𐑝𐑼𐑛 𐑞 𐑖𐑱𐑝𐑰𐑩𐑯 𐑨𐑤𐑓𐑩𐑚𐑧𐑑 𐑯 𐑢𐑲 𐑲 𐑤𐑩𐑝 𐑦𐑑

As a language teacher, I have always been fascinated by different writing systems and how they reflect the sounds and structures of languages. I have learned several alphabets, such as Latin, Greek, Cyrillic, and Arabic, and enjoyed the challenges and rewards of reading and writing in different scripts. But one alphabet that really caught my attention and sparked my curiosity was the Shavian alphabet.

What is the Shavian alphabet?
𐑢𐑭𐑑 𐑦𐑟 𐑞 𐑖𐑱𐑝𐑰𐑩𐑯 𐑨𐑤𐑓𐑩𐑚𐑧𐑑?

The Shavian alphabet (also known as the Shaw alphabet) is a constructed alphabet conceived as a way to provide simple, phonemic orthography for the English language to replace the difficulties of conventional spelling using the Latin alphabet. It was posthumously funded by and named after Irish playwright Bernard Shaw, who saw the use of the Latin alphabet for writing English as a great waste of time, energy and paper. He set three main criteria for the new alphabet: it should be at least 40 letters, as phonetic as possible, and distinct from the Latin alphabet to avoid the impression that the new spellings were simply misspellings[¹^][1].

The Shavian alphabet consists of three types of letters: tall, deep and short. Short letters are vowels, liquids (r, l) and nasals; tall letters (except Yea and Hung) are voiceless consonants. A tall letter rotated 180° or flipped, with the tall part now extending below the baseline, becomes a deep letter, representing the corresponding voiced consonant (except Haha). The alphabet is therefore to some extent featural, meaning that the shape of the letters indicates their sound. There are also some ligatures for common vowel combinations, such as are, air, ear, and yew. Five common words are represented by single letters: the, of, and, to, and for. There are no separate capital or lowercase letters in the Shavian alphabet; instead of using capitalization to mark proper names, a “naming dot” (·) is placed before a name. All other punctuation and word spacing is similar to conventional orthography.

How did I find out about it?
𐑣𐑬 𐑛𐑦𐑛 𐑲 𐑓𐑲𐑯𐑛 𐑬𐑑 𐑚𐑬𐑑 𐑦𐑑?

I first learned about the Shavian alphabet when I was browsing the internet for some information about phonetic transcription. I stumbled upon a website that had a Shavian keyboard and a converter that could turn any English text into Shavian script. I was intrigued by the unfamiliar and elegant shapes of the letters, and decided to give it a try. I typed in some sentences and watched them transform into Shavian symbols. I was amazed by how simple and consistent the spelling was, and how easy it was to read once I learned the sounds of the letters. I wanted to learn more about this alphabet and its history, so I searched for some articles and books about it. I found out that it was created by a linguist named Ronald Kingsley Read, who won a competition organized by Shaw’s trustees to design the new alphabet. I also learned that it was used to publish some of Shaw’s works, such as Androcles and the Lion and Pygmalion, as well as some other books and magazines. I was impressed by the creativity and vision behind this project, and decided to learn the alphabet myself.

Why do I love it?
𐑢𐑲 𐑛𐑵 𐑲 𐑤𐑩𐑝 𐑦𐑑?

There are many reasons why I love the Shavian alphabet and why I think it is a valuable and enjoyable addition to my linguistic repertoire. Here are some of them:

- It is phonetic. The Shavian alphabet is based on the sounds of English, not on the arbitrary and inconsistent rules of conventional spelling. Each letter corresponds to one phoneme (a unit of sound), and each phoneme is represented by one letter. This makes reading and writing much easier and faster, as there is no need to memorize or guess the pronunciation or spelling of words. It also helps to improve one’s pronunciation and listening skills, as one becomes more aware of the sounds of the language and how they are produced and perceived.
- It is elegant. The Shavian alphabet has a beautiful and distinctive appearance, with its smooth curves and sharp angles. The letters are designed to be written with a single stroke, without lifting the pen or pencil from the paper. This makes writing more fluid and efficient, as well as aesthetically pleasing. The letters are also balanced and symmetrical, creating a harmonious and orderly impression. The Shavian alphabet is a work of art, as well as a tool of communication.
- It is fun. The Shavian alphabet is a lot of fun to learn and use, as it offers a new and exciting way to express oneself in English. It is like learning a secret code, or a new game, or a different perspective. It stimulates one’s imagination and creativity, as one can experiment with different ways of writing and reading. It also provides a sense of challenge and achievement, as one can master a new skill and discover new possibilities. The Shavian alphabet is a source of joy and satisfaction, as well as a means of education and enlightenment.

How do I use it?
𐑣𐑬 𐑛𐑵 𐑲 𐑿𐑟 𐑦𐑑?

I use the Shavian alphabet for various purposes and occasions, such as:

- Writing notes and messages. I often write notes and messages in Shavian, either for myself or for others. I find it more convenient and fun than using the Latin alphabet, as it saves space and time, and adds a personal touch. I also enjoy the feeling of privacy and exclusivity that it gives me, as not many people can read or write it. Sometimes I also write Shavian messages on social media or online forums, to share my enthusiasm and curiosity with other Shavian enthusiasts or to attract the attention and interest of potential learners.
- Reading books and articles. I like to read books and articles that are written or translated into Shavian, either in print or online. I find it more engaging and rewarding than reading conventional texts, as it requires more attention and concentration, and enhances my comprehension and retention. I also appreciate the diversity and richness of the literature that is available in Shavian, from Shaw’s plays and essays, to Orwell’s novels and essays, to Carroll’s poems and stories, to Shakespeare’s sonnets and plays, to the Bible and the Qur’an, and many more. Reading in Shavian broadens my horizons and deepens my understanding of the language and the world.
- Teaching and learning. I use the Shavian alphabet as a teaching and learning tool, both for myself and for others. I use it to improve my own pronunciation and listening skills, as well as to teach and learn new words and phrases. I also use it to introduce and explain the concepts and principles of phonetics and phonology, as well as the history and evolution of the English language and its writing system. I find that the Shavian alphabet is a very effective and enjoyable way to teach and learn about the sounds and structures of English, as well as its culture and history.

The Shavian alphabet is a remarkable invention that deserves more recognition and appreciation. It is a simple, phonetic, elegant, and fun way to write and read English, as well as to teach and learn about the language and its aspects. It is also a testament to the genius and generosity of Bernard Shaw, who wanted to make English more accessible and expressive for everyone. I am very glad that I discovered the Shavian alphabet and that I can use it and share it with others. I hope that more people will become interested and involved in this wonderful and worthwhile endeavor.