The Truth About “Ghoti”

Remember the old G.B. Shaw gag that ghoti is an alternate spelling of fish? Apparently it’s not Shaw’s at all, but comes out of the “reformed spelling” movement of the 19th C. Language Log has the details, including yet more orthographical witticisms from reformist gallus-snappers.

About JE

James Enge is the author of the World-Fantasy-Award-nominated novel Blood of Ambrose (Pyr, April 2009). His latest book is The Wide World's End. His short fiction has appeared in Black Gate, Tales from the Magician's Skull, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction and elsewhere.
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3 Responses to The Truth About “Ghoti”

  1. peadarog says:

    I’m sorry now I started that whole rumour about Shaw.

  2. JE says:

    I knew you were responsible somehow.

    But many mysteries remain. Why, for instance, is the adjective “Shavian” when the man clearly never shaved? Seems a bit ghotiy.

  3. peadarog says:

    You are a sic [sic.] man. It’s just pun after another with you, isn’t it?

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