Author(s)

Lin Wang ¹

Affiliation(s)

¹ Jingdezhen Ceramic University, Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province, China

Corresponding Author

Lin Wang

ABSTRACT

This paper systematically explores the refined application of the Empirical Operation Method in English phonics. Building upon Wang Lin’s (2015, 2020) [1][2]theoretical framework of the Simplified Empirical Solution of Phonics, the study reinterprets the logic of grapho-phonemic correlations between letters and phonetic symbols from the perspective of linguistic encoding mechanisms. A novel integrated improvement scheme is proposed, categorizing English word spelling and pronunciation rules into three core operational categories: 1) Dual letter-name assignments (emphasizing the historical inheritance and synergy between English and Latin letter name assignments); 2) Extended application of grapho-phonemic correlation principles (including operations such as shape resemblance, derivative relationships, and rotational symmetry to guide phonetic conversion); 3) Flexible handling of the English-specific [ə] weakening mechanism (anchored in vowel letter name assignments and non-stressed syllable features). Compared to prior approaches, the new scheme optimizes the logical connection between letter essence and phonetic encoding, significantly enhancing rule simplicity and applicability. It not only provides a more scientific classification basis for phonics pedagogy but also extends to practical domains such as vocabulary reorganization (e.g., CET-4/6 wordlist redesign). By foregrounding phonetic assignment as the foundational layer of English linguistic information encoding, this research offers fresh insights for deepening the theoretical and pedagogical exploration of English phonics.
 

KEYWORDS

Empirical Operation, Phonics, Letter Name Assignment, Letter-sound

CITE THIS PAPER

Lin Wang, The Reform of Empirical Operation for Spelling and Reading in English. Curriculum and Teaching Methodology (2025) Vol. 8: 59-67. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/curtm.2025.080208.

REFERENCES

[1] L. Wang. A Simplified Empirical Solution of Phonics. Overseas English, 2015, 18: 50–51.
[2] L. Wang. On the significance of empirical operations in the Simplified Empirical Solution of Phonics. Dossier, 2020, 10: 246–249. 
[3] F. de Saussure. Course in General Linguistics. New York: Philosophical Library, 1916.
[4] L. Bloomfield. Language. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1933.  
[5] International Phonetic Association. Handbook of the International Phonetic Association, J. Di and W. Meng, Trans. Shanghai: Shanghai Educational Publishing House, 2020. (Original work published 2015). 
[6] Y. X. Zhang. From English to Globlish: A Concise Cultural History of the English Language. Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, 2014.

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