Columnist: The winner of this year's national spelling bee won by correctly spelling the spoken word Ursprache, which means "fame" in German. Given the richness of our language, why must we resort to words taken from modern foreign languages to challenge our best spellers? Ursprache is listed in our dictionary, as are words from many other foreign languages, but future spelling bees should limit themselves to words in our dictionary that have been anglicized in all aspects because spelling English words, not knowledge of linguistics and international phonetics, is the point of these contests.
Which of the following can most reasonably be inferred from the argument above?
a. The spelling contest winner knew how to spell most of the anglicized words in the dictionary.
b. Foreign words are more difficult than anglicized words for all contestants to spell.
c. Spelling contestant winners should be determined by their facility with all aspects of language.
d. To spell foreign words, contestants must recognize the language and know its pronunciation.
e. The English language contains more borrowed words than most other languages.
I am not able to understand the passage here.
Author on one hand says that future spelling bees should include words that have been anglicised in all aspects while on the other hand he also says that not knowledge of linguistics and international phonetics, is the point of these contests.
If latter is his point, then why at all he says the former point.
Basically, I am finding both of these arguments of his at 180 degrees and utterly conflicting, and hence I am not able to attach the options confidently.
Somebody please clear my doubt.
Which of the following can most reasonably be inferred from the argument above?
a. The spelling contest winner knew how to spell most of the anglicized words in the dictionary.
b. Foreign words are more difficult than anglicized words for all contestants to spell.
c. Spelling contestant winners should be determined by their facility with all aspects of language.
d. To spell foreign words, contestants must recognize the language and know its pronunciation.
e. The English language contains more borrowed words than most other languages.
I am not able to understand the passage here.
Author on one hand says that future spelling bees should include words that have been anglicised in all aspects while on the other hand he also says that not knowledge of linguistics and international phonetics, is the point of these contests.
If latter is his point, then why at all he says the former point.
Basically, I am finding both of these arguments of his at 180 degrees and utterly conflicting, and hence I am not able to attach the options confidently.
Somebody please clear my doubt.
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