SYSPELL - The Linguistic Background

Various musical-dynamic elements such as stress, pitch, and pauses are priming markers for a language. they give a language a specific rhythm, a melody. All of these features are referred to as prosody. Prosody is what gives language its significance as a means of communication. Prosodic feature are the first linguistic impression that humans perceive even before birth. Children orient themselves to its characteristics throughout their initial language acquisition, much like following “roadsigns” (J.Gilbert).

Based on prosodic features, certain syllables are stressed while others are pronounced in weak, unstressed way. This results in rhythmic patterns. In English, this rhythmic alternation greatly influences the pronunciation of vowels. Stress leads to a variety of different pronunciation variations, affecting factors like length, articulation type, pitch, or speed, depending on the phonetic context of the vowels. In unstressed syllables, however, vowels play a subordinate role and may even be omitted.

In written language, these features cannot be easily represented. Yet, the reader needs information about where to place stress, how to pronounce vowels, and when to modulate their voice up and down. And -written language provides these essential instructions. Specific sequences of letters create patterns in which prosodic information is hidden. Essentially, it is a coding system necessary because the the limited inventory of 26 letters, which has to somehow represent all language variations. In the spelling of English words, spelling mostly focusses on representing vowels. The spelling system with its rules essentially serves as a "user manual" for us in decoding written language. When learners understand this function of orthography, they also recognize their own responsibility as writers. They must adhere to the rules of the code to ensure that their texts are readable.

In SYSPELL, the approach to learning always starts with the simple and progressively moves towards the more complex. Language itself is employed as the most crucial educational tool, seen as a physical experience. Recognizing prosody as an integral component of both language and writing also aids in comprehending spelling. SYSPELL encourages learners to work systematically, inviting them to carefully examine linguistic features, compare and discover similarities and differences. Learners are motivated to categorize and develop a fundamental awareness of language and spelling.

With this background, SYSPELL aims to provide a structured and systematic approach to understanding the intricacies of spelling and pronunciation in English. By delving into the underlying rhythmic patterns and prosodic markers, learners can gain insights into the more specific rules of spelling, such as the complex "Alternative Vowel System," consonant doubling, and how morphological changes through suffixes and endings affect word spelling.

In essence, SYSPELL seeks to empower learners by equipping them with the tools and knowledge to navigate the complexities of English spelling with confidence and understanding.