What is this famous example of the absurdity of English spelling?

Question

A long time ago I read about this funny example posited by some relatively well-known author who spelled a word (I forget the word) in the most difficult way possible, but in a way that was totally congruent with orthographic rules from other words of English.

It was a simple word, like "fish" but he spelled it like "phystch" or something similarly absurd. It's a pedantic example, but sort of funny, too.
Thanks

marcellothearcane · Accepted Answer

Ghoti (/fɪʃ/)
This fallacy arises from the incorrect application of the rules linking orthography to phonology1, resulting in an argument that 'ghoti' should be pronounced similarly to 'fish':

gh, pronounced [f] as in enough [ɪˈnʌf] or tough [tʌf];
o, pronounced [ɪ] as in women [ˈwɪmɪn]; and
ti, pronounced [ʃ] as in nation [ˈneɪ̯ʃən] or motion [ˈməʊʃən].

This is not a definitive list.

Key to the phenomenon is that the pronunciations of the constructed word's three parts are inconsistent with how they would be pronounced in those placements. To illustrate: gh can only resemble f when following the letters ou / au at the end of certain morphemes ("cough", "laugh"), while ti can only resemble sh when followed by the letters -on / -al ("confidential", "spatial") etc.
Also of interest is that at the time (around mid-1800s) many persons were intrigued with the 'Phonotypy and Phonography' of English, with Alexander J. Ellis presenting a number of absurd respellings, like turning scissors into 'schiesourrhce' by combining parts of schism, sieve, as, honour, myrrh and sacrifice.  (Sacrifice was historically pronounced with a [z])

Source: Wikipedia, NY Times
1 Thanks to Azor-Ahai for confirming this.  I originally thought it was an error with phonemes.

user243356 · Answer

"Ghoti" is typically attributed to George Bernard Shaw, the 'relatively well known author' (I am sure he would have objected to the "relatively"!).  Wikipedia says:

The first confirmed use of the word is in a letter from Charles Ollier
  to Leigh Hunt. On the third page of that letter, dated 11 December
  1855, Ollier explains, "My Son William has hit upon a new method of
  spelling 'Fish'." Ollier then demonstrates that "Ghoti is Fish.
  
  An early known published reference dates to 1874, citing the above
  letter. The letter credits ghoti to William Ollier Jr. (born 1824).
  Ghoti is often cited to support the English spelling reform, and is
  often attributed to George Bernard Shaw, a supporter of this cause.
  However, the word does not appear in Shaw's writings, and a biography
  of Shaw attributes it instead to an anonymous spelling reformer.

Aerom Xundes · Answer

Another is ghoughphtheightteeau, which is pronounced potato.

Spacing it out: gh ough phth eigh tte eau

gh for P as in Hiccough 
ough for O as in Dough 
phth for T as in Phthisis 
eigh for A as in Neighbour 
tte for T as in Gazette 
eau for O as in Plateau

Source: http://www.etni.org.il/farside/potato.htm

Sphinx · Answer

Another absurdity I came across is ceougholo. And it means SHOWER.

ce = sh as in "ocean"
ough = ow as in "bough"
olo = er as in "colonel"

Sure it is weird but it is what the question is asking about. "Ce" does not give the sh sound at the beginning of a word, and "olo" only gives the er in "colonel".
If we look at the "ghoti", gh never gives f sound at the beginning and ti never gives sh at the end. So both of these are just the examples of absurdities of English spelling.

What is this famous example of the absurdity of English spelling?

4 Answers

Ghoti (/fɪʃ/)

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