In this video I look at the historical factors that have made English spelling so varied, inconsistent, and unpredictable!

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Sources used:

The Origins and Development of the English Language, by Thomas Pyles and John Algeo.
Encyclopedia of the English Language, David Crystal.
Spell It Out: The singular story of English spelling, by David Crystal.
Bill Bryson: The Mother Tongue
“The History of English Spelling” by Christopher Upward and George Davidson
"Norman Conquest" – The History of English, Luke Mastin


Music: "Sunrise Drive" by South London HiFi.
Outro music: Rinse & Repeat by Spazz Cardigan.