The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-06-21

claim to be the most prolific in the
world. Not content with Its nativs riches,
Ii possesses in a special degree the fac-
ulty or assimlatinE everything useful
from other tongues, ancient and mod
ern 1t ought, indeed. to be the most
perfect vehicle OF thought in the world.
and, In some respects. no doubt, IL is.
Rut curiously enough, there are defl-
clencies in English not to be found In
far less copious languages. While In
many cases we havo half dozen words
expressing the same, or practically tho
same thing, there are, on the other hand,
certain ideas that have no appropriate
words to express them.
In the words denoting relationship
scme notable gaps arc found The most
Slaring Instance Is the want of a word
to distinguish between a male and
female cousin. Other languages such as
French and Italian, have a separate WORD
for each, but In English some addition
or explanation Is required in order to
make 1t clear which sex is intended.
Some obvious DEFICIENCIES English
shares with other languages. The word
t'brother-in-law' Is often applied Incor.
rectly. for want OF a better word, to
more remote relation.
Strictly speaking, a brother-in.law ID
either q wIfe's brother Of a sisters h,s.
band; but tho word Is frequently cx-
tended to denote the relationship existing
between two men who marry sisters or
between a man and his sisters brother-
in-lnw.
1t would be convenient to have ono
word to express such relationships. az
well az others that might DO named.
Grandfathers. patcrna1 and maternal. re-.
spectively. might surely be described by
ono word. And why hnvo recourse 10
French TO designate the person TO whom
one is engaged?
We havo a fairly copious vocabulary
when we speak Of animals. distinguishing
nicely the male, the female. tho young
and even. in certain cases. the aged,
But ono curious deficiency appears.
The domestic fowl has no good, square
word to describe II. fowl Is common
TO amy bird: so is cock" or hen
There Ii really no word corresponding
10 "turkey'' or goose" by which to
designate tho ordinary denizen OF tho
fsrm-yard.
Curious gaps occur here and there In
our language II We look into 1t. The
word ''show" expresses the idea OF max
ing to see. but there IL no word for max
Ing to hear--a photograph. for example,.
II took the monograph to my friend.
and" wlat2 Got him 10 listen to It.
would probably be the ;nelegant finish to
the sentence.
On the other hand. audience" means
those who hcar. ana applies very well
to those present In a lecture hall or con-
cert room But what OF those who sec n
cricket match. for instancaf "spec'a-
tors" Is tho nearest word. but II does not
correspond exactly to audience
There is ono deficiency in the lan-
g,,aSe 30 awkward and Irritating that.
even at this late hour. It ought to DO
made good. Need It be said that refer
ence Is made to indlscrtminate use OF tho
personal pronoun 10 denote either tho
person speaking OF the person spoken OF?
This may not be defect peculiar tn
English. but It Is ORG from which thu
ancient classical tongues are entirely
free.
A.IIe said he had offered him money.
which, he had declined" would be quito
com prehensiblc eithcrin Greek or Latin,
hut in English Il necessitatcs number
OF bracketed explanations. which are
positively annoying and destructive of
grace and flucncy.