The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-22
LANGUAGE STUDY.
Training I'm the Art and Science Of
Interpretation.

The Forum.
An indispensable part of a truly liberal
education consists of training in the scense
and art of Interpretation. Language is the
distinctively human means of communica-
ton. knowledge of language which is
essentially different from that possessed by
the fluent speaker of several languages Is
absolutely essential to the precise and salts
factory Interpretation of any language
Language is the form in which the highest
expressions of human thought and feeling
come to the individual man and to the sue
ceeding generations of men. Language is,
therefore. the essential form of what We
call literature, in the widest meaning of
that word The Interpretation of language
must be studied as a training in the
science and art of Interpretation. or else
the accurate and comprehensive knowl-
edge of the best thoughts, feelings and
activities of humanity is shut out of the
mind.
To acquire the science and art of inter
probation, the prolonged and careful study
of some one language is absolutely indis-
penSable. Such study of one language is
not only Indispensable, but ii is sufficient
for the average college student. For this
purpose it is even far better to concentrate
upon one language than to divide the time
among three or four languages. He who
knows one language in this way knows
something which cannot be otherwise ac-
quired about all languages, about language
as such. He is prepared not only to ac-
quire with a largely increased facility any
language which he chooses to acquire, but
to use that language intelligently and skill
fully as the key to unlock the stores or
literature which it may contain. :.
Such a study of language as shall result
in a training in the science and art OF in
depreciation cannot easily be conducted
otherwise than in a language foreign to
the stuuent. Indeed, 1 very much doubt
whether ii is possible to impart any consid-
cradle degree of this kind of culture without
compelling that careful attention to words
their meaning, their position in the SEN
tence, their value, etc.-whlch unfamlllarl-
ty and the consequent compulsion to make
serious attempt at learning, of necessity
bring about. He who is compelled to
study a series of words that at first mean
little or nothing to him, must somehow
make shift to discover what they do mean
He must become investigator an ex-
plorer, an experimental and discoverer IN
this foreign land. The attempt to force this
way of investigating ones own familiar and
native speech, when the way has not al
foreign language, is not at all likely to be
successful. English, therefore, can never
be substituted for the classical languages
Among all foreign languages the classical
languages are for us best adapted to use by
the teacher for training in the science anc
very structure of these languages, to the
fact that, being dead, they are the more
foreign, and, especially, to the exceedingly
elaborate and generally admirable appa-
ratus of grammars. lexicons, annotated edl.
tons historical and antiquarian llluStra'
lions, ETC., with which several centuries OF
diligent research and careful scholarship
have provided these languages.