Papiamentu
Spelling




Not that phonetic versus etymological spelling makes that much of a difference:
In the Papiamentu spelling competitions the Arubianos get 1 word in 4 wrong, the Curazoleños 1 in 3.
And consider: Those people must think they know how to spell, at least well enough to join a match!

In Germany there is a similar movement going on, where children first learn to spell phonetically, and then have to really learn it. With predictably deplorable results:

The Great Confusion
Learning to spell in spite of school

The fourth-grader wrote:
"Liebe Fata ales gute zum Fatatag. Ich hab dich lib."
("deer dadi, hapi dadis dai. I luv u.")

When Brandenburg CDU representative Henryk Wichmann received these phrases from his daughter, it dawned on him that something is wrong with the teaching of spelling in our state. In many elementary schools, children first learn with the help of "sound tablets" to "write what they hear." Thanks to the pedagogical improvement industry. So in September Wichmann queried the state government. Which found nothing to complain about.
Wichmann’s daughter now goes to a private school.

Some examples of ridiculous results when you apply rules rigorously -
especially when these are ridiculous already!
Readable left, Papiamentu right

beat band	bitbènt
just (only)	djes
jazz	djès
juice	djus
God (Spanish Dios) surprise! for some reason, they didn't change this to Djos or dies (10) to djes	Dios
Alice	Èles
ice pick	aispek
catch	kètsh
PVC	PVS
Sidney	Sedni
shop	shap
tip	tep
web site	wèpsait
internet	enternet
swimming pool	zwèmpul

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