Commentary

eezee speek® takes a completely different approach.

eezee speek® uses the letters of the English alphabet to represent and describe the sounds of the language.

eezee speek® does not use any special characters. We only use the letters of the English alphabet and the under_score character.

All characters are available on any standard keyboard. No special fonts are required.

In fact, no special knowledge beyond knowing the English alphabet is required.

The eezee speek® approach says that phonics or phonetics should be approachable, easily learned, and understood.

I can see no reason to cause people learning English to learn a graphic language (IPA syntax) and IPA linguistic terminology to describe the sounds of a language with a different character-based alphabet.

This approach has the effect of placing an unfair burden on those learning English as a Second Language (ESL) and English as a Foreign Language (EFL) and those studying for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) proficiency exam.

Yes, the IPA has a larger scope of use. It attempts to define all sounds and standardize how they are referenced. That is fine, but it clouds and confuses the underlying reason of language which is communication.

It is my opinion that the linguistic community needs to revisit their contributions and promote language acquisition in a form that people without advanced degrees in linguistics or phonology can understand.

With eezee speek®, what you see is what you say™.

If you keep it simple, and make if fun, people will enjoy the learning process and produce incredible results.

If you overwhelm language learners with advanced multi-syllable terminology and confuse them with learning a symbol language to interpret a character language, you impose an unrealistic and unfair burden, not only on the people learning the language, but on the educational system delivering the language education, and the taxpayers that must pay for it.

- Howard D. Coffman
May 14, 2008