New-York tribune., 1873-01-15
ANNEXIYG A LANGUAGE.

We find in The Elisabeth Daily Herald a
remarkable letter from Mr Arnori Mori the japanese
Charge dAaires, To Prof Whitney, the distinguished
Orienalist from which make the following extracts
W. D. WHITNEY Professor Of SGnsrTt and Comparative
Pathology IA Yale college.
DEAR SIR: The spoken language Of Japan being in.
adequate TO the growing necessities OF the people o hht
Empire and too poor be made, by phonetic alpha
bet sufficiently useful written language, the isea
prevails among many OF our best educ led men anu
profound thinkers that II we would Keep pace Win lne
age we must adopt cOpOus, expanslble ana ex'
panding European language print our laws and transat
an public business in IT, as soon as possible and nave u
taught in our the future language of the coun.
try the gradual exclusion OF our present language
ID NAV be we'll TO state in this connection that the
written Ian Euage now in use IN japan has little or no
relation 10 the spoken language but is mainly hero
gyphca mobilization Of the corruption OF the Chinese
The English language would be our first choice for very
many reasons but there certain obstacles, Of an III
ensey practical character, which, they cannot be re-
Japan exceedingly dicultall but impossible alude,
principally to the absence Of law, rule or order IN ITS
actually heard words, and 10 the large number or
irregular verbs these latter being among the most fire.
quently occurring words III the DhsAge WHICH mAAes
the matter
Allow me TO ask YOU to bear in mind that represent
in this communication, not my individual experience
and convictions Only but also those OF large mum
ofJapanese gentlemen, many Of whom have endeayOred
during the years with or less success,
to acquire knowledge Of English IL - the opinion OF
these gentlemen inc!udlng those OF them VINO u!sL-
stand English BEST that, while thero would be little or
difficulty Introducing into the schools OF the en-
plre and gradually into general use, slmpnneu En-
make an effort in that direction in behalf Of the English
language in its present form-a Language SO dhcult 70
be learned that very large proportion OF persons OF
whom u the vernacular, including those VINO nave
been educated pronounce 1t ununiformy, speak It un-
grammatieally and write in defiance OF all the stand
Now NV proposition which receives the concurrence
OF those OF my countrymen best qualified by their
knowledge of English, and by their general educauOn'
IN iudge aecuraely and wisely on This question is TO
prepare and place in schools and IN the hands OF the
people at large spelling books, dictionaries grninas
and other text books, teaching what may be termed
ain fded 4.
ish from the English language Tor the use OF tne Japan
English so difficult acquisition by Engish-spea6
ing people, and which discourage most foreigners VINO
have the hardhood " attempt to master 1t from perse
vering 10 success.
Mr. Nor proposes to substitute the form seed speaked
bed teached beared, thinked, buyed, coined &c. for
the commonly received preterites and partcipes, 10
make ali purals regular and to reduce the English spell
ing to a phonetic basis. He goes on to say;
think have said enough to indicate the character OF
the changes propose 10 make, and Will not therefore,
trouble with further details. IL may be well for
me 10 state however that being much this
subject have naturally cOnversed with many persons
and that, while seeking 1ght IN all available dl
rectons have found that Of my views are also
entertained by many eminent men who have made
Language lie-study-SOme Of them, after having duly
weighed and considered the claims OF etymOOgy even
going far 10 say that not only Engish-speahng
people, the world at large would be vastly benefited
by thorough recast OF English photography making
the written language what It claims 10 be, phonetic.
instead OF hieroglypaic on phonetic basis which Is
what il now really is.
To conclude let suggest you TO consider while
you making up the opinion which hope 10 receive
from you at early day, that many OF the reasons
which make americans and EnRlishmen hesitate 20
attempt radical changes IN their language, for their own
people, do not apply the under consideration ;
which is the adaptation OF the English language 10 the
necessities Of foreign nation OF nearly 8OO0OOO souls
thousands OF miles distant from the great English
Speaking nations. Let me ask you u consider also
tnat the people OF the Japanese Empire anxious
take high position among the most advanced nations
OF the world but unprOvded with that great
tal 20 individual and national prOgressa good language
and that the English language, smplifed I have
indicated, would De received by them a bOOn while
il would be all but impossible 70 force upon them the
Language in its present form. Indeed, think could
not cOnscientOusly recommend my cOuntryuen 10
their children 90 devote 20 learning language
pete unnecessary irregularities. and in which the
Interchange OFhOught and theacquistOn OF knowledge
are rendered difficult by fantastic OrhOgraphy,
or seven Of the important years OF their lives
years which should be devoted 10 the study positive
science and the practice Of the useful arts.
Respectfully waiting answer 10 this letter, have
the honor 10 subscribe myself, the mean tne your
obedent servant, ARSORI MORI,
Charge dAhaires of Japan.
Legation Of Japan. Washington, d. O., June TO- ls72