Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-03-17
AN AMERICAN LANGUAGE

Ahoio 10 d otioHS llOfeLueut stu1OllS phil
ologists towards simplifcation of the Eng
llsh tongue in many respects. Not only is
this observable among scholars, but among
the people in every day business life. We
cling to roots that involve meanings to a
great extent, where the translated form
would be quite as euphonious and more
easily remembered. This, as Prof. Molee,
who proposes radical reformation, shows,
is exemplifed in such words as ichthyol-
ogy, treating of fishes 1t is from the
Greek ichthys," fish, "logos" science
why not then say " fish science" and be
done with it? The Greek form certainly
obscures the meaning to vast lumber of
people, and drives them to leAicons to
ascertain that which they thus learn arbi-
trarily. In the school-room it is taught
from its roots, it is true, but except the
pupil follows up the study of Greek he is
very apt to lose trace of the genesis of
these adopted compounds, and to use them
without reference to the ANALYSIS to which
they are subject
Prof Molee holds that the muitiplica-
ton of the means of communication be-
tween English-speaking and Germanic ma
tions will emphasize a demand already
made for broader more comprehensive
and cosmopolitan language, and that there
is much force in this is not to be denied.
Nolapuk was for long time urged as a
language means adapted to growing de-
mand, but it has been determined that it
lacks breadth of capacity to commend it
to all people, being restricted mainly to
commercial purposes. 1t is also involved
and requires more Of study than will be
given by the average man. Prof Molee's
idea is to create what he terms-inaptly
we think-an American language, the
base being Germanic and English. This
admits of the early Teutonic and Anglo
Saxon systems being adapted to forms of
expression that may be easily understood
and rapidly acquired. The idea proceeds
upon line with the undeniable fact that
the tendency is towards simplifcation of
words and of spelling, so that the idea to
be expressed develops the word-means for
its conveyance. Professor Molee would
therefore return to the fundamentals of
our language, with such adherence to
grace of expression and euphonic char
acter as is consistent with the proposition.
He believes that language is the product
of growth, and that this may be trained in
proper direction without great difficulty.
Certainly the notifications effected within
half century in the English tongue for
tify his claim thus far. The trouble is.
however, that these changes have been
away from the bases of the tongue, and in
the main consist of adoptions foreign to
the scheme of the language-such as it is
in its conglomerate character.
The greater strength of Molee's PROPOSE
ton lies in his recognition of the fact, as
already stated, that language conforms to
hSSA eEu anu IL Is not
therefore possible for any sudden and arbi-
trary revolution to operate upon it. He
holds, moreover, that a language which is
not a mother tongue. which is mechanical
and arbitrary, will not be adopted, because
it cannot be acquired or used without
much study and devotion to it, and even
then it would be little more than a liberal
cipher form. Besides, says This philologist,
arbitrarily and mechanically constructed
modes OF expression are without tradition,
history or literature, and therefore
men viii not attach themselves to them.
His proposition is to start with human
speech as a basis, and from that develop
forms that will be reliant because answer
ing to needs. Thus, words would be spelled
as they sound, with letter for sound
and but one sound for letter. He would
not confuse the learner by teaching that
certain soun's are dependent in their visi
bic form to the relation of one letter to an
other. OF the relation of letter to a word