Is English Really Crazy?

English, with its myriad of spelling quirks and exceptions, often seems like a daunting language to master.

However, the truth is that English is not as "crazy" as it appears at first glance. In fact, there is a code hidden within the language that can help us decode around 96% of English words. It's the remaining 4% that tend to confound us, as they are irregular in spelling, defying the typical letter-to-sound patterns we rely on.

It is true though that English can appear to be confusing given it's many contributors that make up our language. English is derived from Germanic (Old English), Latin, French, Greek and many other origins. 

To understand why English has these unusual spelling patterns, we must delve into the realm of etymology—the study of word origins. Etymology allows us to trace a word's evolution, unravelling its journey from its inception to its current form.

For an example, let's take a closer look at the word "orangutan" to illustrate this concept.

The word "orangutan" has its roots in the Malay and Indonesian languages. In Malay, "orang" means "person," and "hutan" means "forest." Thus, "orangutan" translates to "person of the forest." The word made its way into English via Dutch explorers who encountered these primates in Southeast Asia.

As languages evolve over time, so do their spellings. In this case, the transition from Malay to Dutch to English introduced variations in pronunciation and spelling. Consequently, we have the word "orangutan" as we know it today.

The apparent irregularities in the spelling of "orangutan" become more understandable when viewed through the lens of its etymology. It's a prime example of how language transforms and adapts over centuries, leading to variations in spelling and pronunciation.

In essence, English is not inherently chaotic. It follows rules, and when we learn these rules, the language becomes far less perplexing. Teaching children and learners the codes and patterns that govern English empowers them to decode and understand the vast majority of words they encounter.

So, the next time you find yourself baffled by English's idiosyncrasies, remember that beneath the surface, there is a system—a code—that makes sense of it all. With knowledge of this code, English becomes a far more accessible and comprehensible language.