Shavian (Shaw)

Shaw alphabet, also called Shavian, alphabet created by George Bernard Shaw to provide a more phonetic spelling of the English language. He published it in his play Androcles and the Lion (1912). In the play, Shaw used the new spelling only for the lion's dialogue, which was intended to be read by the audience as if it were English. The Shavian alphabet consists of 43 characters and uses a combination of regular Roman letters, digraphs, and new symbols. The symbols are easy to read and can be learned quickly. Shaw believed that his alphabet would eventually replace the standard Roman alphabet. The Shaw alphabet is named after its creator, George Bernard Shaw. Shaw was an Irish playwright and critic who was interested in reforming the English language. He thought that the current spelling system was inefficient and created the Shaw alphabet as a more phonetic alternative. The Shaw alphabet consists of 43 characters and uses a combination of regular Roman letters, digraphs, and new symbols. The symbols are easy to read and can be learned quickly. Shaw believed that his alphabet would eventually replace the standard Roman alphabet. However, the alphabet never gained widespread use and is now mostly used by scholars and enthusiasts.