From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!uwvax!jon
Newsgroups: net.nlang
Title: spelling
Article-I.D.: uwvax.471
Posted: Fri Jul  9 09:54:59 1982
Received: Sun Jul 11 02:12:25 1982

I don't equate language and spelling.  I do equate written language and
spelling.  I don't see how the two can be divorced.  Understandability
is one thing, accepted usage another.

Island has an 's' in for the same reason many other words have
silent letters: that's how the word is spelled. (typically, the spelling
dates from days when the letter was pronounced, but that is no longer
relevant)

                          Jon (jon is not an uncommon name)
                          Mauney (you don't want to know how I pronounce THAT)