The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-15
Moro Ocean TeIesraph--what Shall be tn
International Languages

Moro Ocean TeIesraph--whnt Shall be tn
International Language
It will have been seen, by the dispatches in
last Wednesdays HERALD that in addition to
the two ocean telegraphs now in full operation
between the American and European CONT
nents two additional lines are proposed. These
will be, we may take for granted, carried out
as contemplated, and these will be followed by
still other lines to various other points in
Europe. In the same issue of our paper refer
ence was made to another enterprise OF
similar character destined to embrace China
within the Geographic coil. Add to this
the fact of our existing Geographic con-
nection with Cuba, and we will thus have,
with the present and proposed lines,
instantaneous communication with Ireland,
France, Portugal, Denmark, Cuba and China
In other words, people using six distinct
languages will be carrying on hourly inter
course with one another in matters relating to
government, trade, commerce and private
affairs. Some years hence, in addition to the
six languages referred to-viz., English,
French, Portuguese, Danish, Spanish and
Chnese--new lines of ocean telegraphs will
call for the use of other languages Of Europe,
such as Russian, German, Italian and Swedish,
besides the various tongues of Asia.
In which of all those languages will the
telegraph give its utterances? Undoubtedly
in the English, not only because it is the most
diffnsed over the surface Of the globe and
because it is now the language Of commerce,
but because it is the one which, by its concise
ness and expressiveness, is best adapted to
telegraphing purposes. Not long ago the
French language, being the language Of
courts and its study being one Of the
requirements of polite education, was
supposed to be the best medium for
the expression of ideas; but there never
was more ill-founded pretension. 1t Is diffuse
and ambiguous to an extent that renders it the
very worst medium for Geographic communi-
cation. The German has much of the direct
ness OF the English tongue, but it ia compii-
Gated in its grammatical construction, which
renders it also Objectionable. Better than
either, and better than all others, except the
English, is the Spanish, which has force, direct
ness and simplicity; but the objection to it is
the same as to the Portuguese, Danish, Swed-
ish and other tongues of Europe-that 1t is not
sufficiently diffused among other nations to
give it chance of being selected as an inter
national tongue No one who is not familiar
with various modern languages can conceive
the immense advantage which the English
tongue possesses over all others in its force,
directness, expressiveness and simplicity Of
grammatical Onstruction-qualities which
render it the fittest medium for international
communication. II is only in its remarkable
varieties of pronunciation-the same terminal
spelling being pronounced in dozen different
ways sometimes-that it Is open to adverse
criticism; but that objection does not apply to
it as written language. There it is plain,
simple, direct and positive-in fact, tele-
graphic language.
For all these reasons the English must con-
tinue to be the commercial language of the
world; and the great business relations of
England and the United States with the other
nations, growing greater and closer every day
by the aid of the telegraph, will necessitate it's
requirement much more generally from year to
year. It will not of course supersede, to any
appreciable extent the language Of any other
nation at home, but being the telegraphic
tongue it will be the medium of International
communication, and its knowledge will be q
necessity to the political and business classes
of all countries. It is a curious idea that the
building of great tower should, in the dim
past, have caused diversity of tongues, and
that the suspension of slender wire should,
in the bright present, bring back q universal