Phonographics is an alternative way to write/read English invented by Heron Stone. The symbols are called "grafs", and the sounds are called "fonz". Phonographics designates 29 basic fonz and corresponding grafs to represens the sounds of spoken English. There are two different symbol sets in Phonographics: fono.1 and fono.2. fono.1 is an altered version of the standard alphabet; fono.2 is an entirely new symbol set in which groups of similar sounds are represented by groups of similar symbols.
One major difference between Phonographics and the alphabet is that Phonographics is not written in "words". We do not speak in disconnected words. Werunallourwordstogetherwhenwespeak. Phonographics is written in "utterances", following the natural rhythms of speech.
Why Phonographics? Our nervous systems make and use models of the world. A writing system is a visual model of the sounds we make when talking. The old alphabet is a disaster. It's been said to be less than 20% phonetic. No wonder many people have so much trouble learning to spell/read. Further, there is evidence to suggest that imposing such an irrational/disordered system on a sensitive, young human brain/mind could result in permanent physiological damage. Phonographics is a coherent, efficient and even playful alternative to the present chaos.
Reading Phonographics is actually an altered state of consciousness... hearing with your eyes.
Among other things, Phonographics (in the form of fono.1) has been used to teach listening/speaking skills to students of English as a second language and as a sort of "training" alphabet to teach reading to children and other first-time readers.
Phonographics is a compromise between accuracy and simplicity, falling heavily towards simplicity. Heron made this compromise, in part, because he teaches listening/speaking skills to adult Asian immigrants and wanted a tool he could use in the classroom. He's quite pleased to report that it has been very successful and popular with his students.
Phonographics was not created under any illusions as to the likelihood of its being adopted by the general population. He is aware of the shortcomings of a fonedik raydyng sisdm. Phonographics is merely an attempt to devise an optimal system for purely aesthetic purposes... to satisfy his own desire for a better system. He says that it was great fun and very satisfying to have been able to accomplish it. If it catches on... great. If not... so be it.
A PDF containing more sample texts in available here (261K)
If you have any questions about Phonographics and/or would like Phonographics fonts, please contact Heron at: heron@gendo.net
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