New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-04-18
Reform in Language.

The Reform II Language indicated by the terms
'Phonography' and 'Phonctypy' makes rapid and
steady progress The next generaton-if War can
be banshed from the earth-wiil learn 10 read from
Alphabe,s in which each letter shall have one sound
each sound be represented by one letter and no
other-a change which INNS, certainly diminish by
one half the effort and time required in learning 10
read Tha, any system of Photography yet in use
is already perfect we doubt bat the true principle
is clearly in view and the end cannot be difficult Of
attainment. Consider this evidence:
REPORT
or he Committee .rO attended Tie requ.,. Of MessrJ an
dreu.s & Boyle an Exhibition Of Claus Pforosspy on
the 20tA Of March, 1886.
The undersigned attended in the Hall OF the Pho
nographc Institute, on the afternoon of Friday,
March 20th.
The persons presented for examination were four
colorcd adults belonging to Providence, r. /. whose
ages and names Were given as follows: John John
SON aged IS years Ann Dore, aged &c years; Eliza
be:h Thomas, %; and Charlotte Murray, IS years
They accompanied oy their venerable Pastor who
had encouraged them, with benevolent enthusiasm,
from the commencement OF their efforts acquire the
art of reading.
knew the the power of single letter Of any
alphabet. They affirmed hst they did not know the top
from the bottom OF book. Letters 10 them were I'M
meaning blots.
It appeared that they had attended, as -'s's a
course OF lessons in Phcnotypy equivalent TO two weeks
of SIX days each, and six hours day amounting m ~
seventy hours study, extending over Ic'ioo o
about Fix weeks The experiment vas 59 9niy
Tanr but utterly unused mental application Their
. ~ familiarity with books scarcely be appre
Il was 5u TO E 5 TEEN 70 5o Geep .Se sen
ton line, following from left to right and then re-
turning 20 commence at the next line
The course of instruction was interrupted By the da
" ayocation of the pupils by cickneos In and
by opposition OF friends TO the experiment Their at
.tfatfnn mi aa 1br,n
different individuals acted at different times as teachers
ali inexperienced and each having different method OF
instruction. The books employed were found TO be
printed too fine type for adults as they often com
planned that panied their eyes TO read Ihe large charts
Of the Phonotypc Alphabet, now employed, could not
be procured al the commencement Of the course The
place OF being used for other purposes the
attention OF the pupils necessarily diverted from the
teacher. Such The difficulties with which the ex'
pertinent had contend, the Committee learned By
inquiriDe into its history.
IL was suggested to the Committee. that the exhibition
ought not 10 be regarded decisive trial oil the value
OF the Phonetic Alphabet in teaching The pupils were
brought for the fret time in their yes probably before
large and respectable audience and certainly for the
first time furnish literary entertainment Inc teach
r apply observed that the audience should Imagine what
would have been their own embarrassment II called
upon for the first time TO read Hebrew to jewish as
semby after seventy hours study under grea. disad-
vantages
The exhibition consisted OF reading from the Phono-
typic chart and book. The chart contains fortytwo
characters, which represent each of the sounds OF
our spoken language. The pupils have bad virtually
nothing learn but the association o: single definite
sound with each character The teacher points with his
rod to f character lis sound s given by The pupils
Then he points 10 another and another. When the
sounds are uttered .hc word is in reality pronounced
This exhibition very interesting as tending to show
that the whole art OF reading and spelling whose scqui
si,ion now consumes years painful study (a season
of life 100 when the mind should not be ccnhned 10
dumb artificial signs9 might be reduced to learning the
sounds conyenona!y attacked 20 fortytwo characters
Il was evident 10 fact that there was no special merit IN
the pupils excep; that of laudsble desire Tor improve
The read surprisingly well IN r1ouosyI-
tables and some Of them equally as wei N poysy soIes
AT the close o! exhibition the Committee elected
from gentlemen present evidence OF the time required
10 learn 10 read the English language The evidence was
such as 10 set the advantages OF the new system n
strong light Il was known TO the Committee before
hand that some persons holding college diplomas have
not We, learned 20 spell tee language correctly But the
exhibition of the new mode Of reading led them TO the
conclusion that If Phonotyp,c Characters could be intro
duced al mistakes must necessarily cease
In this report the Committee conhne themselves TO
statement OF the facts that brought before them and
of the conclusion thereupon. They have net al OF
them been able give tha. attention 10 the new system
which would be needful enable TO speak confidently
upon iis merits They cannot; however, disguise tbs
conviction ha, il presents claims OF ordinary char
scter upon the candid and careful consideration OF the
friends OF learning, Of popular and Of human
~. GEOhuE o ,, EhGasoS,
CHARLES SUMNER