Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1892-05-07
EDUCATIONAL COLUMN.
Systematic Dictionary Work

N-hSoAN'ANeSA'i
There is scarcely any subject in which
there are so mistakes daily made as in the
pronunciation and use of words.
Children gain new ideas and must have
new words with which to express them.
If they get the word before they have the
idea it is useless to them. They cannot
use it correctly, and it means nothing
to them when they see it or hear it spoken.
All teachers have amusing incidents to re-
late of the misuse of words by their pupils.
There is great difference in pupils in
this respect. Some children instinctively
use good language, pronouncing their
words we'll and using them in the right
place. Such children are those whose
parents are careful in their use of Ian
guage and who have taken pains to direct
their children in this matter. Other pu-
pills who have not had this careful home
training will use their words in slovenly
manner, often selecting those which do
not express what they mean, and omit
ting or slurring parts of the words they
pronouce. Often repeated efforts at pro-
nouncing will bring but Indifferent and
unsatisfactory sounds. This inability to
detect and reproduce sounds is very ap-
propriately named Sound blindness"
The syllables of a word are occasionally
confused. The prefxes or suffixes are
omitted or others are substituted in their
place. This is, fortunately, rare, but one
amusing example occurred in one OF my
schools. A pupil in commenting on q
passing train called the caboose the zeal
aboose." Again the same train, which
was construction train, was called the
instruction train. "The calaboose on
the instruction trainr' Let me say that
in my experience more disbeartening
case of Sound blindness never presented
itself.
1t is such an easy thing to pass over
words incorrectly pronounced when they
occur in the regular lessons that I have
found it profitable, in the small country
schools, to have a class in orthepy. In
ten or fifteen minutes number of words
can be pronounced, defined and used in
an original sentence by the pupils.
To prepare for this work they must
learn the sounds of the novels and con-
sonants, their diacritical marking, the
equivalents in sounds, syllabicatiop, how
to properly accent words, and must have
lengthy drill in pronouncing marked
syllables before commencing to pronounce
words.
After they are able 10 use the diction-
airy intelligently, lists of words should be
given daily to be pronounced, defined and
used in an original sentence. If the pupil
gets the meaning not intended he must
be set right and the definition desired can
be given by some one else. There is less
OF this difficulty than might be supposed.
The teacher by keeping list of mis-
pronounced words on her desk will have
no trouble in finding abundance of ma
terial. TT she desires guide which has
lists Of words suitable for grammar grade
pupils and for high school pupils also. {
can recommend her to send twenty-five
cents to s. A. Maxwell & Co., Chicago.
ILL.,, for Prof. De Garmo's book on Die
tionary Work" This little book has been
Invaluable to me, and it will make the
study of orth9py more systematic and
helpful to both pupil and teacher.
CARRIE GLASS; DAvm