Robinson: A Transparent Code for an Opaque Language

English is one of the most irregular writing systems in the world. The same sound can be spelled in multiple ways (**e.g., the /k/ sound in cat, kite, school), and the same spelling can represent different sounds (e.g., read vs. read).

The Robinson Code helps students navigate this complexity by providing a phonemic support system similar to linguistic tools like:

• The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) – Used by linguists to provide a standardized pronunciation system.

  
  

• Pinyin (for Mandarin Chinese) – A phonetic system that helps learners decode Chinese characters.

  
  

• Shorthand and ITA (Initial Teaching Alphabet) – Systems designed to simplify complex orthographies.

  
  

How the Robinson Code is Different

While phonetic respelling systems like the IPA and ITA use invented symbols, the Robinson Code is unique because it only uses actual English spellings.

✅ Each phoneme is represented using real letters—not special symbols.

✅ One, two, or three letters may be used to represent a sound, making the system more intuitive.

✅ The phonetic guide appears in red and green above words that don’t follow standard phonetic rules, helping students recognize patterns without replacing standard English spelling.

This system allows students to develop decoding skills quickly while naturally transitioning into reading standard English text.

Contact a Robinson Reading tutor via our website or by emailing info@robinsonreading.org

Image: Man and child look at book together.