Specific Reform Systems
Since 1960, the Society has not endorsed any specific alternative English spelling system. However, through its "Personal View" series, it provides a forum for authors of alternative systems to publish their works and submit them to peer review. These schemes vary from regularising a few words to a nearly 100% phonemic dictionary key spelling. Most schemes fall between these two extremes.The attitude of the Society to this and other aspects of English spelling is set out in a Position Paper that is accessible on the Society's web site. Subjects covered include: the objects of the Society, its attitude to alternative systems, the principles to be followed by alternative systems, a response to the attitude that the obstacles to reform are insurmountable, the responsibilities of Government, the question of an International Spelling Commission, how to deal with regional differences in pronunciation, texting, free spelling, synthetic phonics and other teaching aids, the need for further research and the merits of British v. American spellings.
In the November 1983 edition of the Society's newsletter, it printed a five-part reform proposal called Stage 1. One of these was Harry Lindgren's SR1 proposal. In April 1984 they were adopted as the 'house style' of the Society at its yearly meeting. The Society said that the reforms could be used either together or individually (as a step-by-step change). For a description of Stage 1 see SR1#Spelling Reform Stage 1.
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