New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-10
AMERICAN ENGLISH.

HAS THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE BEEN CORRUPTED IN
AMERICAg
To the Editor OF the Tribune.
SIR: We hear so much criticism from the
other side Of the upon the Americana English and
know so well the deeprOOed impression there that our
English is not really English at all, that II Is comfort
sometimes to hear scholars who have made dialects their
special study affirm that after ALL English Is good
as If not better that of any other AngoSaxon cOun-
try when hears that the slang of our language
indigenous altogether TO the Western world and has
taken SO firm hold Of the transplaned tongue that t
forms large part of the most intellectual converse
tion confess especial delight, when sometimes
suddenly discover that the slang has been brought
over motherand Brought and fitting per-
baps into all parts Of wide, live country 1t
has very naturally thriyed, and even become linguistic
necessity.
Ihaye lately been reading some OF the very interest
Ing biographies and other branches OF literature OF the
eighteenth century, and find especially IN Lady Mary
wortley Montagu in Sir Horace Walpole and in Bos-
well. many instances OF tho slang speech to which we
OF America are said to have given BIRTH In the Lea
Blanchard edition of Sir Horace Walpoes writings Vol
l. Letter Ii, read: - we conquer spain as We
have done France expect TO be poisoned. Alas! We
are going conquer Spain They have taken France ny
the hand and bully hcr Mr.. Pitt has recalled Mr.
stanley" &c. &c.
France has an amusing prejudice-borrowed from her
neighbor-against American English. l once met IN
Paris an American lady o: unusual ability. HERSELF
pupil In French Of Mr. Claude Marcel, she had become
thoroughly imbued wth his method or teaching IAN
guages-a method more real and more IN accordance
with laws than the lawso established grammar
Knowing she wanted 10 teach English sought Tor her,
and found vacancy In q large school In Pacsy inc
salary was very good, and the school principal
was highly pleased Ia have for her pupils teacher 50
first essonday arrived this principal discovered tina.
she had deceived; that the new teacher was not
English but American I was denounced as an i'm.
postor, and both OF us were held as worse,Yankeos
head and shoulders and arms and tongue, exclamlng,
Mon Deu. Dieu, what might not have happened
my school il clientele had discovered that the En-
gsh paois being taught here T. This Is all true
and true too that this good woman afterward en-
gagged Irish lady whose brogue >cOuded the English
language that with difficulty II was understood
Now, II II be true that we Americans speak peter In
gish, a. English than our TRANSATLANTIC friends 90,
wouldn't 1t be- good plan for TO begin TO pay little
attention To the way we put this Engnsh together
The bad grammar that IL spoken by even ule most
enlightened people OF this country Is sometimes pte
heard lecture time ago on the WORLDS govern
ments by q college president The lecturer displayed
vast amount learning and patient delVing work; In
fact the amazement was, while listening 10 him. thas
nunciation Of this gentleman unworthy ordinary
wellaught mechanic, Amt, d0Oty opporto0nTty, GIT
get red Of government, ruther. ken tfor CAM words
shOrteAed, em, FER, i'm, U0r them, her, him; words
interesting vagaries &c, &e, only few Of his
many mistakes Yet just such mistakes these are con-
stany repeated the platform and In the most refined
drawing Our public schools teach everything but
schools does not say you done" and lyon seen, bc
passes correct speaker. True, American girls are
lovely" said good -natured Engshinan; tnelt
faces beautiful their carriage GRACEFUL tner uheuS
perfect their self possession remarkable but yc gods
what miracles tQey work with the English grammar
hesc York, April q, 1879. AS' H.