I'M amazed at how children learn to read.

I have nothing but admiration for Emily's teachers who are doing a brilliant job leading our daughter through the minefield that is the English language.

Reading's a skill you take for granted once you reach adulthood (if you are fortunate enough to be able to read, that is, and if the latest research is to be believed, then there are lots of people out there who cannot).

You forget how daunting, how utterly overwhelming and baffling English spelling can be to somebody who is attempting to read it.

I mean, there's no logic to it.

Emily's getting really good at sounding out letters before saying the words aloud. So she has no problems with 'b-i-g' or 'a-n-d'.

But how on earth is she supposed to navigate her way around 'e-n-o-u-g-h' or 'k-n-o-w'?

You find yourself saying, 'trust me on this, it's pronounced 'enuff'. See that 'g' and 'h'? Well they're sounded together as 'ffff'. And the 'k' at the start of 'no', you don't say that. Why? Because we don't, OK? Now let's finish the story.' Not really adequate, is it?

Being a journalist, and a sub-editor at that, I'm a stickler for spelling, punctuation and grammar. Sloppy writing really irks me.

But from a purely practical point of view, it's hard to argue against someone who proposes streamlining and simplifying the written ways in which we communicate.

I suppose the advent of text-speak is a move in that direction.

Personally, I draw the line at using abbreviations when I'm sending a message from my mobile phone.

:)