|
|
|
Editor's note
|
|
When Melania, age 12, of Strathfield wrote into Curious Kids to ask why English has so many spelling rules, I could sense her frustration. And who among us hasn’t wondered why it’s “debt”, not “dette”, why “through” looks like “cough” despite their obvious differences, and how on Earth we ended up with a word like “rhythm”?
As linguistics researcher Kate Burridge writes, things were rocky from the start. Old English (spoken 450-1150) had 35 or so sounds, far too many for the 23-letter Roman alphabet to handle. Things got worse from there, especially after the French got involved. Some early printing press operators were European and they introduced favourite spellings from their own languages. Not terribly helpful.
We could make new, simpler rules, of course. But no matter how silly spellings are, she writes, people get attached to them, and new spellings – even sensible ones – never seem to get a foot in the door.
|
Sunanda Creagh
Head of Digital Storytelling
|
|
|
Top story
|
More spelling problems came in when French scribes introduced new spelling conventions — their own of course, and not always helpful.
Shutterstock
Kate Burridge, Monash University
It was a rocky beginning for English spelling. Then things got worse.
|
Politics + Society
|
Liberal women such as those in the Morrison ministry, pictured here, should organise to achieve structural change - the only kind that ever sticks.
AAP/Lukas Coch
Chris Wallace, Australian National University
The Liberal Party is at a crossroad in its history. It must take bold steps to ensure better representation in its ranks by introducing gender quotas.
|
Science + Technology
|
-
Jenny Graves, La Trobe University
There are many cultural and social factors involved in making a baby into a man or a woman. But biologically speaking, sex starts when you're just a tiny group of cells in your mother's uterus.
-
Jo McDonald, University of Western Australia; Peter Veth, University of Western Australia
They were looking to study rock art at a remote desert site but what they found showed people had been using the place almost since the first people arrived in Australia.
|
|
Arts + Culture
|
-
Julianne Schultz, Griffith University
We need a new national narrative, for reasons of diplomacy, trade and social cohesion and to grapple with many global challenges. The humanities and social sciences will be vital in shaping it.
-
Trevor Jones, Griffith University
The incredible physical control of the Circa acrobats, and their ability to make bodies seem weightless, is breathtaking.
|
|
Business + Economy
|
-
Richard Holden, UNSW
The debate ought to be about whether we should have spent big. It was good that we did. But we need to "reload" and get the financial system under control.
-
Helen Hodgson, Curtin University
Super discriminates against women by design. it was set up to pay the most to the workers who earn the most.
|
|
Cities
|
-
Neil Sipe, The University of Queensland; Dorina Pojani, The University of Queensland
Shared electric scooters appeal as a way to cover that awkward distance between public transport stops and your destination. But first e-scooter operators must solve the littering and dumping problem.
|
|
Environment + Energy
|
-
David Booth, University of Technology Sydney; John Turnbull, UNSW
The New South Wales government has turned its back on plans to create sanctuary zones covering 2.4% of waters around Sydney, despite evidence that these 'no-take' areas are crucial for protecting fish.
-
Graeme Clark, UNSW; Emma Johnston, UNSW
Pumping very salty water into the ocean has surprisingly little impact on marine life.
|
|
Health + Medicine
|
-
Belinda Townsend, Australian National University; Deborah Gleeson, La Trobe University; Hazel Moir, Australian National University
The EU is asking Australia to extend drug company monopolies. This could mean Australians wait longer for access to cheaper, generic medicines.
-
Jane Phillips, University of Technology Sydney; Deborah Parker, University of Technology Sydney; Michael Woods, University of Technology Sydney
Four Corners this week revealed understaffing and poor staff training in aged care. These issues have also been found in previous reviews into aged care.
|
|
Politics + Society
|
-
Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
Morrison is tactically quicker than Turnbull, just as in his messaging he can cut through more sharply. He's more attuned to the emotional and knee-jerk drivers of today's politics.
-
Michael Belgrave, Massey University
The movement to establish a Māori monarch emerged following colonisation to protect land ownership and to bring otherwise independent tribal communities together.
-
Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
After fierce attack from Catholic schools over the new funding arrangements, the Morrison government has announced a new $4.6 billion package for non-government schools.
-
David Hamer, University of Sydney
The NSW Court of Criminal Appeal ruled that a man cannot be retried for the murders of two Indigenous children – a major blow to families of the victims in a nearly 30-year-old case.
-
Denis Muller, University of Melbourne
Media moguls' alleged involvement in bringing an end to Malcolm Turnbull's prime ministership raises serious questions about their influence, and media accountability.
|
|
Columnists
|
|
|
| |
Featured jobs
|
|
Pride Cup — Melbourne, Victoria
|
|
University of Melbourne —
|
|
RMIT University — Melbourne, Victoria
|
|
La Trobe University — Parkville, Victoria
|
|
|
|
Featured events
|
|
Isabella Fraser Room, State Library of Victoria, La Trobe Street, Entry 5, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia — La Trobe University
|
|
John Niland Scientia Building, UNSW Sydney, Kensington , New South Wales, 2033, Australia — UNSW
|
|
Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley, Perth, Western Australia, 6102, Australia — Curtin University
|
|
United States Studies Centre, Institute Building (H03), City Road, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia — University of Sydney
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
