Sounds and Signs. By Archer Wilde. (Constable and Co. 4s.
6d. net.)—This book is " a criticism of the alphabet with suggestions for reform," in which the needs of the average reader of printed type are throughout kept in view. Mr. Wilde begins by pointing out that our alphabet, as used in printing, really contains forty different characters for children to learn, since fourteen of the capitals are quite distinct in form from the corresponding small letters—e.g., D and d. He suggests that this defect might be avoided by the abandon- ment of small letters—the printer's "lower case "—altogether, and the sole use of Doric or Sans-serif capitals, like this— DORIC, This would facilitate learning to read and increase legibility. Mr. Wilde goes on to devise a new alphabet of forty-seven characters in the interests of spelling reform.
Previous page
