# Simplify The Alphabet? Lets Get Rid of: X, Y, Z? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 17, 2003, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simplify-the-alphabet-lets-get-rid-of-x-y-z/202061 "2003-09-17T00:49:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simplify-the-alphabet-lets-get-rid-of-x-y-z/202061/1 "2003-09-17T00:49:10Z")
Why do we have the characters X, Y, and Z? They are duplicated by other letters, and I don’t see the need for them. Take “X” for example-it is the rarest letterin the english language-an incidenceof less than 1 use per 4000 letters. And-why not drop “k” as well (it is duplicated by “c”. Have these proposals for a simplified alphabet ever been made before? What do you think?😕 ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simplify-the-alphabet-lets-get-rid-of-x-y-z/202061/2 "2003-09-17T01:12:57Z")
Interesting concept. So x-ray becomes “eksray”. Yep…I’ll swap one keystroke for three. Yellow…Y becomes what? Zebra…?? ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simplify-the-alphabet-lets-get-rid-of-x-y-z/202061/3 "2003-09-17T01:30:10Z")
We sort of need Y and Z (Yellow and Zebra need it), but I could see doing away with X, C, and Q. Both are not strictly neccesary. X could simply be “eks” C uses the sounds of either S or K. Just use S or K. Examples: Kat instead of Cat. Sity instead of City. Q(u)? Just use “kw” instead. Spell “kwikly” instead of Quickly. ---
**Author:** ![biqu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7feea3/32.png) [@biqu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/biqu)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simplify-the-alphabet-lets-get-rid-of-x-y-z/202061/4 "2003-09-17T01:33:06Z")
> [@](#): > > Proposals for spelling reform have failed for several reasons. The spelling system is really not as bad as its critics have claimed, and causes few problems; a radical reform would be offensive to the eye and cut us off from the past; and minor reforms are hardly worth the trouble. American English spelling diverged slightly from that of British English, partly as a conscious attempt at rationalisation, partly to distance the newly-independent United States from Great Britain, but the changes are so small as to make hardly any difference, and merely make work for proof readers and sellers of spell-checking software. from the [Wikipedia article on English orthography](http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spelling). Other sites of interest: [English Spelling Reform](http://www.barnsdle.demon.co.uk/spell/) [Simplified Spelling Society](http://www.spellingsociety.org/) ---
**Author:** ![Gadfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/aeb1de/32.png) [@Gadfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadfly)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simplify-the-alphabet-lets-get-rid-of-x-y-z/202061/5 "2003-09-17T01:42:20Z")
> [@](#): > > X could simply be “eks” I refuse to use the word “ekstrapolate.” It looks like a nauseatingly stupid title for a death metal song. The same goes for “ekstirpate.” Let’s examine some others, shall we? “Eksamine.” Just… No. “Eksylophone.” Changing a teeth-rattling pronunciation error (eks-zy-lo-phone) from verboten to de facto? No thanks. “Ekspropriate.” It appears to be the name of some space-age material made from elk dung. Yuhumuruwurguhumurg. “Flummoeks.” This word is no less than the rape of our mother tongue. In short, such a change would be truly disastrous. ---
**Author:** ![Super\_Gnat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Super\_Gnat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Super_Gnat)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simplify-the-alphabet-lets-get-rid-of-x-y-z/202061/6 "2003-09-17T02:25:36Z")
I think this is supposed to be the point where someone posts Mark Twain’s essay on spelling changes. Here we are (pretty sure copyright’s expired on it, but ftr I got it from here). > [@](#): > > For example, in Year 1 that useless letter “c” would be dropped to be replased either by “k” or “s,” and likewise “x” would no longer be part of the alphabet. The only kase in which “c” would be retained would be the “ch” formation, which will be dealt with later. Year 2 might reform “w” spelling, so that “which” and “one” would take the same konsonant, wile Year 3 might well abolish “y” replasing it with “i” and Iear 4 might fiks the “g/j” anomali wonse and for all. > > Jenerally, then, the improvement would kontinue iear bai iear with Iear 5 doing awai with useless double konsonants, and Iears 6-12 or so modifaiing vowlz and the rimeining voist and unvoist konsonants. Bai Iear 15 or sou, it wud fainali bi posibl tu meik ius ov thi ridandant letez “c,” “y” and “x”–bai now jast a memori in the maindz ov ould doderez–tu riplais “ch,” “sh,” and “th” rispektivli. > > Fainali, xen, aafte sam 20 iers ov orxogrefkl riform, wi wud hev a lojikl, kohirnt speling in ius xrewawt xe Ingliy-spiking werld. ---
**Author:** ![ChaosGod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ac91a4/32.png) [@ChaosGod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChaosGod)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simplify-the-alphabet-lets-get-rid-of-x-y-z/202061/7 "2003-09-17T03:32:08Z")
One big problem I see is the use of X, Y, Z, K in the world of maths, physics and chemistry How should we name the axes of coordinate systems? What would the new symbol for potassium be? ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simplify-the-alphabet-lets-get-rid-of-x-y-z/202061/8 "2003-09-17T04:06:39Z")
Why not just speak Esperanto? [http://www.esperanto-chicago.org/key.htm#\_ALPHABET](http://www.esperanto-chicago.org/key.htm#_ALPHABET) ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simplify-the-alphabet-lets-get-rid-of-x-y-z/202061/9 "2003-09-17T04:06:41Z")
Why the fu don’t we get rid of both C and K? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Dogface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simplify-the-alphabet-lets-get-rid-of-x-y-z/202061/10 "2003-09-17T04:14:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KidCharlemagne \* > \*\*Why not just speak Esperanto? > > [http://www.esperanto-chicago.org/key.htm#\_ALPHABET](http://www.esperanto-chicago.org/key.htm#_ALPHABET) \*\* Because we want to speak to more than seven people in a whole US city. ---
**Author:** ![Dogface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simplify-the-alphabet-lets-get-rid-of-x-y-z/202061/11 "2003-09-17T04:15:56Z")
I know of only one modern language that underwent a dramatic and intentional spelling reform: Gaeilge. That was probably only possible because it was spoken by relatively few people, even in its native land. ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simplify-the-alphabet-lets-get-rid-of-x-y-z/202061/12 "2003-09-17T04:23:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dogface \* > \*\*Because we want to speak to more than seven people in a whole US city. \*\* Must be a big city to find seven. But there is hope (little): [http://www.barnsdle.demon.co.uk/spell/index.html](http://www.barnsdle.demon.co.uk/spell/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simplify-the-alphabet-lets-get-rid-of-x-y-z/202061/13 "2003-09-17T04:24:39Z")
Oh and this guy is hilarious because his choices are so damn poor: [http://users.aol.com/DrHumph/funetik.htm](http://users.aol.com/DrHumph/funetik.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simplify-the-alphabet-lets-get-rid-of-x-y-z/202061/14 "2003-09-17T04:24:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ralph124c \* > \*\*Why do we have the characters X, Y, and Z? \*\* So we can spell ZYZZYVA, BELNSYZ or EELNSXY on our first turn in Scrabble. ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simplify-the-alphabet-lets-get-rid-of-x-y-z/202061/15 "2003-09-17T04:26:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by amore ac studio \* > \*\*from the [Wikipedia article on English orthography](http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spelling). > > Other sites of interest: > [English Spelling Reform](http://www.barnsdle.demon.co.uk/spell/) > [Simplified Spelling Society](http://www.spellingsociety.org/) \*\* Whoops, sorry I assumed those cites were your sig for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simplify-the-alphabet-lets-get-rid-of-x-y-z/202061/16 "2003-09-17T04:49:40Z")
I resent this idea! Poutingly yours, ~OE~ ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simplify-the-alphabet-lets-get-rid-of-x-y-z/202061/17 "2003-09-17T05:58:41Z")
I’m okay with keeping all twenty-six letters. But I would like for everyone to agree to stop pretending that _w_ and _y_ are consonants. ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simplify-the-alphabet-lets-get-rid-of-x-y-z/202061/18 "2003-09-17T06:48:51Z")
[Been there, done that…](http://www.ehumorcentral.com/Directory/Jokes/1061.html) (warning - may spawn some popups) ---
**Author:** ![corndog\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@corndog\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corndog_man)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simplify-the-alphabet-lets-get-rid-of-x-y-z/202061/19 "2003-09-17T13:30:24Z")
The problem with English in my opinion is that there are not enough letters for the sounds that are made. For example, c can be a hard sound like K or an S sound. ex. Cram-Hard C Necessary-Soft C Then there are silent letters, like the K in knife. Then there are words like colonel, that does not sound as it is spelled at all. Words like “through” and “enough” that have strange ‘ough’ letters that make an “f” sound. Or two letter combinations like “PH” for pharmacy and physics, when the “ph” sounds like an “f.” The y is a sixth vowel, in words like try, fly, cry, etc. X is a pretty worthless, in scrabble we use the x to spell words like ax, axe, sex, flex or other small words. Xylophone is pretty rare to string together. Then the English spellings. UK USA (or correct spelling) Neighbour neighbor colour color programme program centre center To the English, neighbor and color do not have a u in them. For example COLOUR is now sounded as COL-HOUR, instead of COL-OR. The word Programme is totally wrong, what’s the use of the extra “me”? Center is not spelled with an “re” ending either. Tomato is pronounced TOE-MAY-TO too. ---
**Author:** ![Galanthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Galanthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galanthus)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simplify-the-alphabet-lets-get-rid-of-x-y-z/202061/20 "2003-09-17T13:49:26Z")
No way, amoungst other things thats just dull, I say bring back Æ,Ð,and Þ instead !! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simplify-the-alphabet-lets-get-rid-of-x-y-z/202061.md?page=2)