"i" for an "I"

I am with Spike. I think that someone is having you on or that the Times of India is doing it for "special effect" or something. Spelling reform periodically gets proposed and is as often rejected. This passage (which has been attributed to Mark Twain, the American humorist, but may not be by him) takes a very tongue in cheek view of the subject: "[i]For example, in Year 1 that useless letter "c" would be dropped to be replased either by "k" or "s", and likewise "x" would no longer be part of the alphabet. The only kase in which "c" would be retained would be the "ch" formation, which will be dealt with later. Year 2 might reform "w" spelling, so that "which" and "one" would take the same konsonant, wile Year 3 might well abolish "y" replasing it with "i" and Iear 4 might fiks the "g/j" anomali wonse and for all. Jenerally, then, the improvement would kontinue iear bai iear with iear 5 doing awai with useless double konsonants, and Iears 6-12 or so modifaiing vowlz and the rimeining voist and unvoist konsonants. Bai iear 15 or sou, it wud fainali bi posibl tu meik ius ov thi ridandant letez "c", "y" and "x" -- bai now jast a memori in the maindz ov ould doderez -- tu riplais "ch", "sh", and "th" rispektivli. Fainali, xen, aafte sam 20 iers ov orxogrefkl riform, wi wud hev a lojikl, kohirnt speling in ius xrewawt xe Ingliy-spiking werld.[/i]"

Change is permanent and new changes are hard to get accepted. An "i" for an "I" also stand for the same thing.

P.S. 'An "i" for an "I" also stand for the same thing' - no, they don't. "I" is a pronoun; "i" is simply a letter.

I don't think that is such a huge laughing matter my friend. I told you, just lay your hands on the issues of The Times of India. That is the proof I told you already. What more should I give you?

I do not live in India.

You seem to be right Linda. That is probably a change brought about in the Indian English. Otherwise, everyone would have been either talking about this or not have expressed their surprise over it. By the way which Mac do you use? Have you gone in for settings in the control panel. Maybe you can find an answer there to make the necessary changes.

@Spike Hello Spike, I am not aware if this change has been officially implemented or not. As you know I am a freelancer, I need to use that "I" umpteen times. However, I am not using the "i" for the "I". So in that sense I am not getting fooled anyhow. But I was really curious what responses I would get here. And as I expected, there were quite a few worth reading and pondering upon. Your suggestion of the All Fools' Day should reach the Times office. May be they can comment better than me. @3honor I am really amused to see you spell the word "honor" like the American spelling instead of the British spelling "Honour" Anyways, can you point out what you saw in the language policy?

I reckon they had a massive delay in their printing process. That article was probably supposed to be printed on April 1st.

lelin1123 I agree, too many of us have this programmed into our brains and it's automatic to use a capital letter..I can't imagine any logical reasoning for this type of change.......

@Lelin1123 You were kinda 'brainwashed' to use the capital "I" as you said in your school and that is what you learnt as a student. But just imagine and anything goes for imagination, your kid is taught to use the "i". That is what will be in his blood. And if years later, a hoodwink like me emerges and says the "i" is utter nonsense use "I" instead. Do you think he will accept it. The same is the case with not only you, but all of us. We have been taught to use the capital "I" and we cannot digest the smaller one. @Stary1 Mate, not everything goes with logical reasoning, though this would be too heavy a sentence to use here. This kind of stuff can go well with spiritual things. But you are right, we are 'programmed' to use the caps "I".

I don't know who made it. But when an international organization like The Times of India has accepted it means that is certainly official though I have yet not seen the changes on their site. The Indian arm of the Times in the print version has accepted this change for many weeks now.

abhi_bangal OK thank you..I'll research it later...Thanks for the info

Yes friend, there are many out here, who have heard this for the first time. But I think you have hit the nail on the head. One does not wish to show oneself overbearing. I think that is the idea behind the small case "i". It shows that we are not giving importance to oneself. Got it right.

I am not debating here if the that usage is correct or not. That is just a causal discussion that I wanted to have as I stumbled upon this 'change'.

Can a typo error get repeated weeks together? At least that is not expected of the mouthpiece of India. I have seen these changes in the paper and so I am speaking about it. If there is anyone who has seen this, that buddy will echo the same feelings. It is as simple as that.