Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-10-07

PLEA OF THOSE WHO WOULD SIM
PLIFY oRTHoGRAPHY.
The Phonetic Principle Would Save
Time Laborand noney-cheap-
ness In Literature.

From the New York Tribune.
The latest plea for reforming-or deform-
ing-the spelling of the English language,
put forward at the recent meeting of the
American Pathological Association, is based
upon commercial grounds. The reformed
spelling would be cheaper than that which
now prevails. child could get through
school In two years less, and would thus
save 80 much time and the school fees and
other incidental costs for two years. We
should be able to dispense with thousands
of school teachers. The cost of printing
and publishing would be greatly reduced
1t is estimated that one-sixth Of the letters
now used are superfiuous. Reformed spell
ing would thus reduce by one-sixth the cost
of printing. A book which now costs Sc
could be produced for S.. newspaper
could get as much matter into five columns
writing by hand would be saved. and one
sixth of all the clicking on typewriting ma
chimes. The government printing office
would save $4,000 a year. And SO forth.
Wherefore, let us save money by remodel
Ing the language.
This novel and enthusiastically up-to-
date presentation of the case irresistibly
reminds us of the classic tale Of the Lon
don firm which saved $4,000 a year on
ink by having its clerks omit to dot their
rs and to cross their is. We are not sure
that 1t has much better basis In fact.
Beyond doubt it would be cheaper to print
thru than through" and in that way
considerable saving Of composition. and also
OF ink and paper, might be effected.
Might Learn Quicker.
It Is also possible that children might
learn photography more quickly ''if tina
wer tawt on fonetik prinsiplz," though of
that we are by no means sure. At any
70 -, wit,
would on the average amount to two years
time But what of etymology, which Is at
least as important as photography? After
word has been deprived Of every mark
and feature indicative Of it's derivation,
how is the child to recognize its deriva-
ton and thus appreciate it's real meaning?
1t is well to be believed that all which
would be gained in spelling would be lost
and more, too-in the understanding of the
origin. meaning and proper use of words.
And this would be true Of the foreigner and
the native alike.
Much cheap fun has been made over the
perplexity of a foreigner in finding the
same combination of letters pronounced in
three or four different ways. He would not
be a bit less perplexed at finding the same
combination of letters meaning three or
four different things. Granted that he Is
perplexed to find rain" and rein" and
reign" all pronounced alike, it would profit
him little to spell them all ran and then
have to fix in his mind the fact that some
times ran meant water falling from the
clouds. sometimes the strap with which a
horse is guided and sometimes the period of
a monarch's occupancy of his throne. He
may wonder why sale and "sail' are
sounded alike, but it would not help him
to spell them both SAL and then tell him
that the same Identical combination of
letters sometimes meant the vending of
goods and sometimes the sheet with which
vessel is propelled by the wind.
The COmn,e rcial Arrument
The commercial argument has, however,
place in court. 1t is entirely unworthy of
the case. Literature and language are not
to be measured by dollars and cents. 1t is
not the cheapest but the best language that
is wanted, and that which is best not for
rapidly of writing nor for cheapness Of
printing, nor even for-ease Of learning it,
but rather for grace, accuracy and eff
fectiveness in the expression of thoughts
and of the finest distinctions and shading
Of thoughts. The perfect language Is not
made, as the ludicrous fate of much yaunt-
ed "Volapuk' should teach US. 1t is q
thing Of growth. In the process Of growth
1t undergoes various changes, in spelling
well as in other particulars. But these
are effected gradually, through natural
processes, and not by sudden and arbitrary
amputations and graftings. The English
and it is the part of wisdom to recognize
the fact and to use all possible influences
toward making those changes benehcant
But any attempt to transform the language
at a stroke, on no matter how scientific
principles, could have only ridiculous or
disastrous results.
1t Is encouraging to see that the fad for
spelling reform Is distinctly on the wane.
Despite it's occasional Renaissance, the
number Of people who once thought it
smart" and a proof of being progress
sive reformer" to write thru has grown
smaller.
Scholars are shy of the reform" and prac-
tical people are equally shy of it, There
have been some occurrences to give en-
phatic encouragement to Unbalanced en-
thusiasts who undertook to force a gro
tesque confusion Of photography and de-
struction of etymology upon US in the news
papers and even in cheap magazines and
cheaper books, whether we would or not
Similar discoura cement will be salutary in
the case Of all who seek to make the En-
fish language look like "pidgin'' either for
the sake Of phonetic theories or Of paltry
gains in composition.
.