Surprising as it sounds, it looks like the English alphabet will be losing one of its letters on June 1st. The announcement came from the English Language Central Commission (ELCC).
Here is a quote from the press release:
After carefully considering and debating the matter for over two years, the ELCC came to the conclusion that the letter “Z” should be removed from the English alphabet. The main objective of this change is to simplify the phonetic aspect of the language, and to unify the American and British spellings.
What will happen to the words that have the letter “z” in them? It depends on the word. According to the ELCC, words that started with a “z” will now start with an “x”. Examples include:
- zero becomes xero
- zoo becomes xoo
- zone becomes xone
- zodiac becomes xodiac
Words that featured a “z” with the “s” sound, on the other hand, will now be officially written with the “s” (i.e., unifying the American and British spelling). Examples include:
- visualize becomes visualise
- analyze becomes analyse
- materialize becomes materialise
What do you think about this change? Will it really simplify the English language, or will it make things more confusing?
This post is an April fools prank.
Well I suppose the ELCC had nothing to do for a while so came up with this crazy idea. Why do away with something which has worked well so far. I liked Andy,s comment that xoo looks like hugs and kisses and how would you spell Buzz, Buxx ? Lazy , laxy? and what about Dizzy . Dixxy, Craxy, snaxxy . they all look like new flavors of potato chips. Pleeeeeease spare us this craZy idea. I am looking forward to teaching my grandchildren the alphabets from A to Z.
Anyone know the official website for English Language Central Commission (ELCC). ?
What will the country Zimbabwe be called now? Ximbabwe or Simbabwe?
hai it is interesting. let Z go to a sound sleep. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Don’t disturb
Nice joke lol…
evn my name gotta Z in it.. and i clearly say that nobody hav d right to change the spelling of ma name and its pronunciation…
and the idea of eliminating Z frm alphabets its
“TOTALLY RUBBISH”
instead of z, it is better to remove “x”, as it involves the phoenetic sound of two letters ‘k” and ‘s’ or ‘k’ and ‘z’. for example,
the words ‘xylophone’ sounds’ zylophone’ and
‘xerox’ sounds ‘zerox’ which can be written as ‘zerokz’ or ‘zeroks’ also,
while the words,
“zoo” cannot be pronounced as “xoo” that is “exoo”
“zone” cannot be pronounced as “xone” that is “exone” etc.
“Z” has a unique phoenetic sound and due to this feature, is used to differentiate the spellings for words using ‘s and ‘z’. It is not a combination of two sounds or letters and therefore does not create confusion in anyway.
what will happened to the cars with “Z” … Xoom, Xoom? its practically a big joke they just wants us to Smile…Buxx In?
As for as speaking & listening is concerned,it will not confuse us but in writing it may,since people have become habitual writing the “z”.
watevr it may be Z r X
but wats d need of removin letters ?..
does thos ELCC membrs gonna carry thes alphabts, so dat dey feel its TOO HEAVY?..
And what will they do with words like; “ooze”, freeze, gauze, breeze, seize, seizure”, will they be changing all of it into “s”.
And sometimes the ‘z’ is there to tell the reader that the letter in question is actually pronounced /z/ not /s/. Like “zone, zymology…etc.” And often the uncommon words such as, “zygomat, zygomatic”.
We recognize the words, rather than reading them letter by letter. Changes occur not only in vocabularies with the passage of time, but also in gramattical structures. But to eliminate a letter in the alphabet, that is a bit difficult to digest.
I personally like it to be there, although we cannot stop the process of langauge development.
And what will they do with words like; “ooze”, freeze, gauze, breeze, seize, seizure”, will they be changing all of it into “s”.
And sometimes the ‘z’ is there to tell the reader that the letter in question is actually pronounced /z/ not /s/. Like “zone, zymology…etc.” And often the uncommon words such as, “zygomat, zygomatic”.
We recognize the words, rather than reading them letter by letter. Changes occur not only in vocabularies with the passage of time, but also in gramattical structures. But to eliminate a letter in the alphabet, that is a bit difficult to digest.
I personally like it to be there, although we cannot stop the process of langauge development.
Hadi
Guys!
C’mon, just check the post’s date please…
It was just a joke ( actually an April Fool’s Joke) and it is becoming and old one. Good to know people care, though.
I’d be scared too.
Cheers!
if at all an alphabet should be removed let it be Q .if Q can’t stand without U,what difference ,it is going to make if it is removed
How come? it is impossible. It should be thr?
this is seriously a stupid thing.
It’s follishness in the 1st place as “Z” is the sound easily produce by tongue, they should not have removed it but add a secondary “T” as “T” in great languages like Arabic and Urdu have two letters for it, one pronouned “Tay” and other is “Tee”.
What about the names, all and everything that has been written over the past centuries in english, and ELCC at least should have checked the dictionary to find that how many words starts from “Z” there are many, what about “ZEBRA” it neither sounds “S” nor “X”, the least words comes from “X” and not “Z”.
I simply don’t get it.
how can i call u crazy!!!! with out zzzzzzz!!!!
Like most others, I too would like to think of it as Joke for April fools’ day. They should have chosen 1st of April as the effective date instead of 1st June.
On the other hand, if the guys at ELCC are indeed serious, I would say they should use their time for better things. Yes, … English is a slightly crazy (I wouldn’t like to spell it as ‘craxy’) language with all its funny spellings and pronunciations and I would prefer that it remains that way. Why change it to suit the Americans?
I think somebody must be playing a joke. If it’s true, it’ll take some
time to come to terms with this unnecessary removal of Z
ramanarasimha Mysore
though they are trying to improve phonetic language,
I think, they will end up messing up many other things……..Remove the letter Z from keyboard, keypads…. people names……people signatures…documents….. oh my god, people using more zzzzzz will have to suffer a lot……..
I disagree with replacing z—>x
Halah …. Capek deh…..
Why not A ?
I think it is unnecessary to have such change and these people have no right to do such practice. I think it is a joke.
lol. funny april fools joke. :p
pathetic idea!!!!
Did anybody tell the Xebra.
NICE JOKE!….u think all the words containing Z would actually change to x or s!…cant imagine all the web site’s name changing ….all the Books n dictionary issued up-to now changing….n oh of-course changing my own NAME!!!…come up with something more sensible next time PLEASE!
The alphabet song is going to sound so funny now that the letter z is gone. Now you know your abc’s, next time won’t you sing it right please.
This is real my dad who works in the government received a e-mail confirming this.
How if we remove all X, Y, Z for simplicity?
removing letter ‘Z’ is kind of foolishness
So, what will happen for Zakai … Xakai !!!!
it is a craxy idea :D)
This is bullshit shouldnot happen wat will the chinese do???? lolz…..
Most of their names start with Z
Originator admits its s Joke- ELCC is the Joke = but if ye really want Spell Reform try Dr Bains’s “Saaspel”. Actually i want more letters – say 33. I fell in love with the small ð [ eth] at 14, and now also the Þ [thorn] /And what about medieval “joch” – not on keyboard or in Character map, but PM Menzies’name used it centuries ago so now in Scotland he is “Mingis” but here he is ‘menzees’. Bring these letters back – we need them!!!
when will the alphabet “Z” be removed from alphabets of English?
Where on earth is English Language Central Commission (ELCC)?
in a xoo? lol
Actually I’m now seeking for words containing letter “s” but pronounced as /z/. Can somebody give to me some amaxing website listing such words?
Thank you ELCC fans…
Xinedine xidane? Synedine sidane? That sucks.
If u replace the ‘Z’ by ‘X’ then what about the variables X,Y and Z in algebra….?? it must be insane to remove Z from alphabets..
DREAMZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ…THIS IS A BLOODY DREAM THAT WILL GET OVER WITH. WHY DOES THIS ELCC IS THINKING ABOUT THIS CRAP……………….ELCC IS ITSELF A CRAP
Stupidness! ELCC never said the President is involved! HELLO … NO NEWS! Such idiots. Just taking one letter out of the alphabet is just the same taking your brain out of your head… >:(
Good humor ; students will officially study X-oology or XX-oology or XXX-oology. LOL
There is no official body named English Language Central Commission… if anyone finds it inform me….
Intelligent joke … still people are reading and responding…..
Rgds
🙂
z alphabet cant’t be replace any world i love all the letters in the alphabets
I think this is not too good, because the beginners can be reached in a confusion what they put the substitute
This step is appreciable. Yes, word can be possible to write on the above discussed way. eg xerox
Changing of the English LanguageHaving chosen English as the preferred language in the EEC, the EuropeanParliament has commissioned a feasibility study in ways of improvingefficiency in communications between Government departments.European officials have often pointed out that English spelling isunnecessarily difficult – for example, cough, plough, rough, through andthorough. What is clearly needed is a phased programme of changes toiron out these anomalies. The programme would, of course, beadministered by a committee staff at top level by participating nations.In the first year, for example, the committee would suggest using ‘s’instead of the soft ‘c’. Sertainly, sivil servants in all sities wouldresieve this news with joy. Then the hard ‘c’ could be replaced by ‘k’sinse both letters are pronounsed alike. Not only would this klear upkonfusion in the minds of klerikal workers, but typewriters kould bemade with one less letter.There would be growing enthusiasm when in the sekond year, it kould beannounsed that the troublesome ‘ph’ would henseforth be written ‘f’.This would make words like ‘fotograf’ twenty per sent shorter in print.In the third year, publik akseptanse of the new spelling kan be expektedto reash the stage where more komplikated shanges are possible.Governments would enkourage the removal of double letters which havealways been a deterent to akurate speling.We would al agre that the horible mes of silent ‘e’s in the languag isdisgrasful. Therefor we kould drop thes and kontinu to read and writ asthough nothing had hapend. By this tim it would be four years sins theskem began and peopl would be reseptive to steps sutsh as replasing ‘th’by ‘z’. Perhaps zen ze funktion of ‘w’ kould be taken on by ‘v’, vitshis, after al, half a ‘w’. Shortly after zis, ze unesesary ‘o kould bedropd from words kontaining ‘ou’. Similar arguments vud of kors be aplidto ozer kombinations of leters.Kontinuing zis proses yer after yer, ve vud eventuli hav a reli sensiblriten styl. After tventi yers zer vud be no mor trubls, difikultis andevrivun vud fin it ezi tu understand ech ozer. Ze drems of the Guvermntvud finali hav kum tru.
it is really nice joke and nice try as well..but it will not work . it may change the history of the English language. what about zoologist..also some names even in arabic.. ziad ..xiad..or zaid ..xaid.. no it will not work. if this happened sure we will demonstrate and will also make a denied speech at the Hyde Park Corner . ok girls and boys who will cooperate with us and agree to demonstrate at the speech corner ..just send me msg pls.
Nice joke ..have this type word.
What on earth is going to happen to the Zebra……
1. ZZZ…!!! (snore) will be replaced by XXX…!!! in comics and cartoons. It’s wonderful to replace sleep with sex!
2. Azim Premji, Zaheer Khan, Nazir Hussain, Catherine Zeta Jones and millions of others will run behind the govt authorities and courts to get their driving license, deeds, registered docs and voters ID cards to be updated with new spellings.
3. Newspapers will make handsome money through name change ads by businesses and individuals.
4. Atleast a 20 million will get jobs in all industries for updating documents and soft content to replace Z with the other craps.
5. Software companies will analyze the possibility of a global mass converting tool for Z, X and S.
6. Change in the QWERTY structure will provoke the keyboard manufacturers to think of having a new key for the left little finger.
Yes, such a change would create wonderful opportunities for people in all sector. I’m sad abt just one thing –
7. This web page will disappear with immedate effect. It has the letter “Z” in the URL.
🙁
What about the Z E B R A ???????!!!!!!!!!!!!