Yet you still want some correlation between spelling and pronunciation, otherwise the writing system essentially becomes completely arbitrary and thus impossible to learn (since we humans rely so much on pattern recognition for learning).
Yet you still want some correlation between spelling and pronunciation, otherwise the writing system essentially becomes completely arbitrary and thus impossible to learn (since we humans rely so much on pattern recognition for learning).
(On the other side, it is much more difficult for us to learn English and get used to that disconection between alphabet and said words. And we don't have spelling competitions :).)
Trying to read (as schoolchildren) a few samples of text written in different dialects during that time dispelled any notion that it was a good idea.
Also: China (as another poster pointed out).
EDIT: Btw, if you have a good grasp of English accents, it's pretty easy to see what kind of chaos would occur in a country as small as England. (Thinking of the "north south divide" thing.)