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| Vol. 18, No. 39 | Aug. 26, 1999 |
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| Vol. 18, No. 39 | Aug. 26, 1999 |
Write I before E, except after C, or when it sounds like an A, as in neighbor and weigh."
Such complex rules for mastering American spelling patterns are a specialty for Richard L. Venezky, Unidel Professor of Educational Studies and Professor of Computer and Information Sciences.
In his new book, The American Way of Spelling: The Structure and Origins of American English Orthography, Venezky explains why English words so often include mysterious components, such as the silent "B" in "doubt," and the unspoken "N" in "autumn."
The book reflects Venezky's longstanding interest in spellings, an area he first began exploring nearly 35 years ago.
While pursuing his Ph.D. in linguistics from Stanford University, Venezky analyzed the link between spellings and the sounds in 20,000 common English words. Later, his work expanded to reveal how children master English spelling-to-sound relationships, providing insights to help them read more effectively.
David R. Olson, a literary scholar at the University of Toronto, described Venezky's new book as a "thorough and engaging analysis of how spelling patterns relate to spoken language and to reading."
Another reviewer, Dominic W. Massaro, former chairperson of the Department of Psychology at the University of California, Santa Cruz, said that "Venezky's measured guidance on reading instruction and the nurturing of the child's engagement with the written word is most timely."
The American Way of Spelling, published by Guilford Press of New York City, outlines the origins of the 26 letters and the current spelling practices, examines the irregularities of English spellings and, finally, describes spelling rules required to teach phonics to beginning readers.
Venezky is on leave this year, serving as research director in Paris for the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development's educational technology studies. In this capacity, he will be coordinating research across the 29 OECD countries, examining the impact of educational technology on schooling and learning. For the past two years, he has been a visiting scholar with the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C.
For more information on Venezky's book, check the Guilford web site at <http://www.guilford.com>. 
-Ginger Pinholster
