I don't have a direct way to answer your question. I do know that whenever discussion about, say, "we need to teach programming/algorithmic thinking at school" comes up, one of the responses is "what do we cut?"
Right now in the US there is a push to focus on those things which are testable on state-wide standardized tests. As a result, schools are cutting back on other topics, and on recess. I would rather have a more regular language, less time spent on spelling lessons, and more time spent on recess and the arts.
Spelling lessons do not (in my opinion) keep "kids engaged in the process of knowledge assimilation." I remember taking home spelling lists of words to memorize, and being tested on it. We had spelling bees, which I think best encourages those who don't need encouragement.
In languages with a more regular spelling, such tasks are less important.
It's obviously hard to conduct this sort of experiment, but I don't think it's hard to see where a more regular spelling would (in principle) help.
As for Chinese, the literacy rate in China was low, in part because of the written form. China carried out language reforms as part of an effort to improve literacy (which in turn was part of a ideological movement towards social equality.) This, I think, supports the hypothesis that there are negatives in having a more complex written form.
Right now in the US there is a push to focus on those things which are testable on state-wide standardized tests. As a result, schools are cutting back on other topics, and on recess. I would rather have a more regular language, less time spent on spelling lessons, and more time spent on recess and the arts.
Spelling lessons do not (in my opinion) keep "kids engaged in the process of knowledge assimilation." I remember taking home spelling lists of words to memorize, and being tested on it. We had spelling bees, which I think best encourages those who don't need encouragement.
In languages with a more regular spelling, such tasks are less important.
It's obviously hard to conduct this sort of experiment, but I don't think it's hard to see where a more regular spelling would (in principle) help.
As for Chinese, the literacy rate in China was low, in part because of the written form. China carried out language reforms as part of an effort to improve literacy (which in turn was part of a ideological movement towards social equality.) This, I think, supports the hypothesis that there are negatives in having a more complex written form.