Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-04-19
Good English.
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Few people even among Cuo ouuo"Sou
classes, speak good English. This is
usually attributed to defects in the
schools method of teaching language;
but Mr.. Percival Chubb in his new work
on the bleaching of English" asserts
that it is due mainly To the ignorance or
carelessness of parents, most OF whom
take no pains to teach their children the
correct uses of words or to guide them
to the reading of the best books, and
many of whom set bad example by
constantly talking in slatternly manner
in the home.
Unquestionably Mr.. Chubb's state
ment is correct. AS DR.. Nicholas Muir
ray Butler says in his introduction to
"Teaching of English: "The one ruling
maxim of English teaching ought to be:
The child will speak and write the sort
of English that he hears and reads" TO
which he might have added: The man
will speak the same sort of language as
the child unless he is brought during
youth under extraordinary reformatory
influences.
When the large part that language
PLAYS in every individual life is consider
ed, it must be deemed great misfortune
that more pains are not taken in teach
ing it, both in the home and in the
school-for even Mr.. Chubb, who lays 80
large share of the blame for our defects
in this respect on the influence OF the
home, cannot exculpate the schools en-
tirely. It was said of old, that as man
thinketh in his heart, so is he. 1t might
be said with almost equal truth that as
man talks so is he. Mr.. Carlyle has
written at great length, and with some
yehemence and fierceness, on clothes.
But mans clothes neither give as clear
insight into his mind and character, nor
influence them so much, as the way he
talks and writes. A good judge OF
human nature may be deceived by an
others appearance, but the moment that
other speaks he stands revealed. Peo-
pie who speak or write carelessly and
inaccurately-who save themselves the
trouble of selecting the best and most
forcible words to express an idea by
swearing or using slang, mispronounce
words rather than take the pains to
"look them up" and get their sentences
askew because they are too lazy or igno-
rant to frame them correctly-usually do
other things in much the same way. 1t
indicates a defect of character. On the
other hand, those who speak and write
perspicuously usually do other things in
very much the same way. 1t indicates
disposition to be careful and exact, to do
things right because it is pleasure and
duty, and because it has been found
profitable. Now, one OF the first I'M
portant things that human beings learn
to do is to talk, and there is no question
that if they be taught to talk correctly,
precisely and even elegantly, there will
be developed in them a tendency to do
other things in the same way, while II
they be allowed to learn to talk in slip
shod fashion, it will develop in them a
tendency to do other things in that
fashion.
Next to setting a good example before
them, the principal duty of parents, in
the matter of teaching their children
good English, is to put into their hands
the best books. The right sort of read
| ing has many times corrected bad habits
acquired in childhood. There are many
people of considerable reading and in
telligence, however, who do not speak
good English, for correct pronunciation
and clear enupciation are as essential
parts of good spoken English as perspicu.
Gus diction and grammatical and elegant
phrasing, and they can be acquired only
by frequent trips to the dictionary, con-
slant attention to the usage OF good con-
6versationalists and public speakers, and
persistent effort to say things right.
Too much value cannot be attached to
the use of good English. 1t is OF as
much importance to the business house,
where it is particularly desirable that
| ideas should be expressed in the tersest
and clearest way possible, as it is in the
pulpit. at the bar, or in the newspaper
office. Business men, in fact, whether
Willingly or not, are always influenced
favorably or unfavorably toward an ap-
plicant for a position by the way he
talks. No other men are so anxious To
have people say what they have to say
Iintelligently, and then quit. And, final
Ily, no person can hope for popularity in
polite and intelligent society or can even
enjoy moving in that kind OF society, II
he speaks incorrectly, clumsily or coarse
I No language ever existed which was
more worthy of careful study than the
English with its great history, its re,
markable flexibility and fine shades OF
meaning and its marvellous literature
and certainly it is worth while for peo'
ple who have to use that language every
moment, and in the least and greatest
transactions of their lives, to make some
effort to learn to use it accurately and
effectively if not elegantly.