Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1886-09-23
ENGLISH AS SHE Is WROTE.

when YOU want to convince Yourself
that YOU don't know anything about
tbe English language take up a diction-
ary and 20 to looking out the spelling
and pronunciation of words YOU think
Won know all about ANY dictionary
will do but Webster's preferred. | did
Mi. morning, and now make haste to
write this before the language gets away
from me entirely. 1t changes so much
expect in Il short time to fall back on
tbe twenty or thirty words OF Spanish
know, and give up English altogether
Several queer modes of spelling and
pronunciation that | have come across
in the last week called my attention to
this thing and looked them upin Web
ster had the satisfaction of finding
that in each instance was wrong, ac-
cording to the dictionary There is on
IL one thing for man to do under
such circumstances-he must stick it
out on his own ground, and contend
tint the dictionary is wrong That is
what do in the three instances | am
about to mention
In my brief chronological researches
to-day did something that | suppose
few people have done-l read the pre-
face to the dictionary. 1t was brash
undertaking, but it paid for | found
out in minute why we could not agree
in some pronunciatons and spellings.
Here is what | read: "In preparing for
the present revision 1882 the attention
of both the editor and The publishers
was first directed to the etymology.
They were aware that, however admira-
Bile the industry and valuable the con-
uibuhons of DR.. Webster in this de-
partmeut, the science of comparative
phIIoogy was by no means perfect in
his time, if indeed it could be said to
exist at all. 1t is only within few
years that the true principles on which
this science rests have been suggested
and confirmed, and the methods have
been determined by which future in
designations may be successfully prose-
cuted In 1854 arrangements
were made with DR. c. A. +. Main, of
Berlin. Prussia, to undertake this task
DR., Mahn was recommended by some
Of the most distinguished scholars of
Germany as admirably qualified for the
service, and he had been favorably
known by special researches in this de-
partment He has employed several
years upon the work, and has performed
tin manner worthy OF his high repu-
tatiou." That settled it; my spelling and
pronunciation in New York in 1886
were to be governed by the opinion of a
Prussian in Berlin in 1854; there was
no more to be said, and | called in a
very strong man who sometimes works
about the yard TO put the dictionary
back on the shelf.
Now for two of the words where
Pu,sian English and American En-
glish clash. The principal of very
good school in New Jersey and | We're
talking about history the other day. |
happened TO mention Motley's Rise of
the Dutch Republic. "
You mean the Rice of the Dutch
Republic said he, pronouncing the
word Rise just rs | have spelled it,
Rice
no, | don't" said |, mean any
thing of the kind "
But that word is Rice. not Rise, when
used as a noun, said he.
was incrcdulous, add we took down
copy Of Webster, which was the near
EST to hand Sure enough, Webster
gave il Ris. for the noun, TO distinguish
1t from Riz. the verb. The principal
was right According to Webster |
must say The Rice of the Dutch Re-
public
"Now what do you think about it?"
asked the principal.
81 think that Webster is donkey"
replied, and, though this opinion was
only a private one, see no rea-
SON TO change it now. How many
/ Ipo@ readers would have the sublime
check 20 say that there has been Il
great Rice in the price of corn?n The
hand of DIR. Mahn shows here, and the
pLace-Pussia, and the date 1854.
Iben how would You pronounce
S-ru-a-I-o-r?' the principal asked.
why, squalor, of course, | told him.
You've wrong again, said he, "The
4 pronunciation is Squa-lor' (squay-lor).
We looked that up, and so it was, ac-
ogiing TO Webster More Prussiap En-
ga'l, Let me give Il sample: "Ehe
iaAiJI before their Rice in life, had
4 Ae1 IN Cherry street in great Sguay-
4 .o- That English might do in Berlin;
1t won pass in New York.
! 40" for one sample of Prussian-En-
'neIling. Tread in the Times yes
E that child had been kidnapped.
a am thought what new { me is this,
i ".hapes looked in Webster and
...aa that he gave his weighty (ten OF
i - pounds authority for kid
4 +''4 Here is the hand OF the Prus-
Y '' again. kid IS good colloquial
j for child. and is not slang as
I = ".eh imposed. Nab or map" is
4 .g', good English for catching, taking
d .. "i SO when YOU kidnap, you lit
\ 't Aah Kid. The past tense OF
n T according TO Webster is nabbed.
u past tense Of nap is mapped. So
n l1I1 ubmjt that the past tense
Il pAAp kidnapped, our friend IN
4 .' 70 the contrary Notwithstanding.
i 'Ie That Mr.. Webster ghost, when
y, bis next edition. which will
ha about the size OF a seashore
4 "lti stick to the English and
11erlaud alone. We must have
n1 uuly Engiishin New York
u .. i IN dog cart, dude or q