# Why is English so complicated? - Arika Okrent

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/ted-ed-7859430/why-is-english-so-complicated-arika-okrent
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/ted-ed-7859430/why-is-english-so-complicated-arika-okrent.md
Podcast: [TED-Ed](https://stenobird.com/podcast/ted-ed-7859430)
Published: 2026-07-11T17:30:00+00:00
Episode link: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/VG3954642028.mp3
Audio file: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/VG3954642028.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/ted-ed-7859430/episodes/why-is-english-so-complicated-arika-okrent
Duration seconds: 498

## Resource

Explore the evolution of English spelling conventions throughout history, and find out why it's such an inconsistent language.--Spelling reformers have been advocating for changes to make English spelling more intuitive and less irregular. One example of its messiness: take the “g-h” sound from “enough,” the “o” sound from “women” and the “t-i” sound from “action,” and you could argue that “g-h-o-t-i” spells “fish.” So, how did English get like this? Arika Okrent explores the complexity of English spelling conventions.Lesson by Arika Okrent, directed by Emily Howells, Aaron Brady.Support Our Non-Profit Mission----------------------------------------------Support us on Patreon: http://bit.ly/TEDEdPatreonCheck out our merch: http://bit.ly/TEDEDShop----------------------------------------------Connect With Us----------------------------------------------Sign up for our newsletter: http://bit.ly/TEDEdNewsletterFollow us on Facebook: http://bit.ly/TEDEdFacebookFind us on Twitter: http://bit.ly/TEDEdTwitterPeep us on Instagram: http://bit.ly/TEDEdInstagram----------------------------------------------Keep Learning----------------------------------------------View full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/why-don-t-tough-and-dough-rhyme-arika-okrentDig deeper with additional resources: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/why-don-t-tough-and-dough-rhyme-arika-okrent/digdeeperAnimator's website: https://www.emilyhowells.com and https://aaronbrady.uk----------------------------------------------Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! Jay M, Constantino Victor Delgado, Andrea Galvagni, Andrew Tweddle, Laurel-Ann Rice, Fernando A. Endo, Helen Lee, pam morgan, sarim haq, Gerardo Castro, Michel-Ange Hortegat, Enes Kirimi, Amaury BISIAUX,…

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