Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-11-16
SCHOOL COLUMN.
InvS stigatiOns OF Prof. Hempl Of the
UDiversity OF Michigan.
THE USE OF WORDS.

HE USE or W OhDes
The University of Michigan has be-
gun an investigation that will prove at
once interesting and valuable should
the results be any where nearly com.
mensura,e with the merits Of the
scheme. In order TO determine, if Pos
sibie the limits of our dialect centers
aud currents, a circular has been dis
tributed throughout the country, con-
tanning II questions regarding the use
Of different words which are subject 70
various interpretations.
1t has become the chief glory of the
age to speak English properly. and
everything that contributes To the cor
rect use Of the language should be
hailed as an evidence IF true culture.
1t is an encouraging sin, moreover, to
see the great university of Ann Arbor,
forgetting It's Greek roots and its San
scrit symbols long enough to pay some
slight attention 20 English, the future
language of all the world.
The idea embodied in this circular is
to discover in what localities certain
idiomatic expressions and words are
current. Some portions of the United
States have so great a stock of puculiar
words aud phrases that their language
forms patois separate from the Ian
guage. This is true in some parts OF
the south and in Indiana. Michigan
has her peculiar forms Of expressions,
but being in the pathway of emigra-
ton and commerce, is thoroughly cos
mopolitan and imbibes freedom that
precludes set forms Of speech.
An idea of the scope of the circular
which is the work of George Hempl,
Junior professor OF English at the Uni
versity, may be gained from the follow
ing extracts:
Which is the most usual; pa pa,
papa, pap, or 'pa;' If the last, does
the a sound a in art, hat, or all? Do
you say down town or down town.
Does You all mean all of YOU or
or YOU or simply your Which word
has the stress l. You all used in
speaking to one person? Is 'yous' in
use for you? Is 'you'n's' used for
you? Is yous' used in speaking to
one person? j. .you'n's;' Do you say
What all did he say?" WHO all was
thereyn Is bunch of cattle familiar
TO you? Would YOU say II want up -
i want to get upy Would you say 1T
is all"--'It is gone, there IS no moreY
DO you occasionally say IL guess 81
thiuk?' Il reckon j think; Might
you say Il wonder if | shall get to go
shall be able to go?' Would you
say Il got to 90 riding yesterday|-I
had the opportunity
Do you call a small tin vessel with a
topped handle a ''tin cup or a 'dipperY
Would You call an iron utensil having
large open top, and used for boiling
potatoes, meat, etc, Il pot or 'ketteT
If large and made of brass what would
YOU "dii itg w Vtit wa NHii " N'''''
vessel for carrying water, a pail or a
'bucketY What would you call a SINH
lar vessel of tin for carrying water or
milk? Would you call covered tin
vessel for carrying a small amount of
milk or a dinner, a pail, a can or a
kettle? Do you say frying pan. skill
let or spider? If more than one, how
do you ditferentiate;
What calls are used to the following
animals: Horses, cows, dogs, cats.
pigs, sheep, chickens, ducks, geese?
In calling person do you usually pre-
Tx 'O?'
Is the word shilling in use in bust
ness? If so, what is its value? Is bit
in usey If so, what is its value? Is
levy in use? If so what is its value?
Is flip in use? II So what is its value
Answers to any part of these ques-
| tons could not fail TO be of value to
the projectors of the idea. as they
doubtless intend to prepare lexicon
for colloquial uses. Saginaw Courier
| Herald.
NOT PRONOUNCED CORRECTLY.