One of the most prominent and distinctive aspects of the Spencerian writing system is its complete dependence on the Latin alphabet. This is in contrast to the earlier forms of English, which were more closely associated with the native or Celtic languages. Hence, it was often difficult to learn to write in the Spencerian manner, as English teachers were frequently unaccustomed to working with students who did not already speak the language. This is not to suggest that one cannot learn to write in the Spencerian manner, however, it is simply to state that one’s command of the Latin alphabet is a requirement.
The Latin alphabet is also extensively used in referencing the source material. Therefore, it is essential to have some familiarity with the language in order to understand the context in which the references are made. This is further complicated by the fact that the Latin alphabet itself can be used both for written and spoken words, but in order to write in the Spencerian manner, it should always be used for spoken words. The use of the Latin alphabet for spoken words is also extended to the end of sentences, with the exception of the word ‘the’, which is always placed at the beginning of a sentence (unless it is a question).
For those who were taught in a traditional manner, the learning of the Latin alphabet was often a struggle, with some teachers not even expecting their students to reach this stage. This type of teaching frequently left many young students disheartened and struggling with spelling errors, which could even cause long-term damage to their confidence. In other instances, the struggle to learn the Latin alphabet was so intense that it resulted in students ‘biting off’ their nails, which was indeed a common problem back in the 1800s.
The above mentioned issues associated with acquiring an extensive knowledge of the Latin alphabet were in no way peculiar to the United Kingdom, but could just as easily be applied to the United States of America. The fact that this knowledge is so pertinent to the teaching of Spencerian English should therefore not be a cause for concern, but rather an incentive to ensure that all future teachers become well-versed in the English language, as well as the Latin alphabet.
The Importance Of The English Language In A Historical Perspective
To return to the point at hand, it must be emphasized that the Latin alphabet is not simply used for spelling, but is also extensively employed in reference to the source material. One therefore needs to have some familiarity with the English language, if they are to have any chance of understanding the context in which the references are being made. On the other hand, those who do not have any knowledge of the English language, will inevitably struggle to understand the references and will thus be handicapping themselves of crucial information.
The use of the English language in the United Kingdom dates back to the Middle Ages, with most notably, William Shakespeare (1564–1616) representing the pinnacle of classical English language playwriting. It was not until the 19th century that English as a whole began to be widely accepted in the public sphere, with some authorities even going as far as to proclaim it to be the ‘Official Language’ of the United Kingdom. Naturally, the abovementioned authors would therefore be familiar with the English language, regardless of whether they were born in the United Kingdom or elsewhere.
The above should not be taken to suggest that William Shakespeare did not also employ the Latin alphabet in his work, with some of his greatest plays, including Hamlet, Othello and Macbeth, being written in, what is now known as, the Shakespearean manner. Nevertheless, knowledge of Latin is still required in order to properly interpret the works of this great playwright. Even after over a century of widespread English use, Latin continues to be widely regarded as the language of scholarship and education, especially in the United Kingdom and many other English-speaking nations.
The above comments represent a small selection of the vast stores of knowledge that can be accessed via Wikipedia, which contains approximately 5.8 million articles in 285 different languages. It is therefore evident that the English language is not only important for practical reasons, but can also be used as a tool to obtain in-depth and extensive knowledge of almost any subject matter.
Why Should One Learn Spencerian Writing?
A significant number of English speaking countries, including the United Kingdom, have now embraced the concept of ‘universal literacy’, where literacy and education are regarded as something that should not be limited to a select few, but rather something that should be available to everyone. In these latter parts of the world, learning to write in the Spencerian manner is regarded as a crucial stepping stone towards obtaining full literacy and therefore the ability to read and comprehend all written material, regardless of whether one is a man or a woman, young or old, native or foreign.