[pezezin]

In most languages with alphabetic writing, if you know a spoken word, you can write it. But in Chinese and Japanese, people might know a word, use it daily, being able to read it, and still forget how to write it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Character_amnesia

[dontlaugh]

It varies in alphabet languages too. Plenty of native English speakers can’t spell words they can speak. Chinese is not much worse than English in this respect.

[thrown_22]

Yes, English is a terrible written language. In a sane world we would have moved to IPA a long time ago.

jˈɛs, ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ ɪz ɐ tˈɛɹɪbəl ɹˈɪtən lˈaŋɡwɪdʒ. ɪn ɐ sˈeɪn wˈɜːld wiː wʊdhɐv mˈuːvd tʊ ˌaɪpˌiːˈeɪ ɐ lˈɒŋ tˈaɪm ɐɡˈəʊ.

[tokinonagare]

And then we would need to use two very different spellings for American and British English. Be careful with what you wish.

[thrown_22]

There isn't such a thing as a spelling when you write down what you hear. We can still understand each other despite the spelling of center and centre being different.

[pezezin]

Yes, that's why I wrote "in most languages" :D

We all agree that English spelling is a royal pain in the ass.

[Beltalowda]

Ah right, that makes sense.