The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1904-09-24
Learning Languages From Machine
Mrs. Charles R. Miller in Leslie's Weekly

Mrs Charles R. Miller in Leslie's Weekly.
For years-in fact, since the day of its
introduction American people have
looked upon the talking machine as of no
value except as an amusement. Like the
old story of having to 60 away from home
to learn news about ourselves, it took a
foreigner to show us what might come from
serious use of this wonderful invention.
Six years ago, Prof Carlos V. Cusaehs,
an intellectual young Spaniard who now
occupies the chair of that language at the
Annapolis naval academy, discovered that
this machine might be used to revolutionize
the study of languages in our colleges and
give to the students of all institutions the
same pronunciation. ITO the boy or girl
who has gone through college trying to
master French, with new instructor and
style of speaking the language each year,
this method comes like a rainbow after the
storm. 1t is not so difficult to learn how
to translate French, and the proper use of
the popular phrases which have crept into
our newspapers and literature; but in this
day of hustle and business, what the stu
dent needs most is the quickest way TO
learn how to correctly pronounce the Ian
guage The talking machine can give
him this, because it is impossible for it to
mispronounce word. The records never
become impatient or disagreeable if ques
toned by the student a hundred times
over.
Prof Cusachs has experimental with
several machines, and finally discovered
that the disk style with the hard-rubber
records was the best and most correct.
Two years ago Lieut.. Commander Huse
was persuaded to give it a trial at the naval
academy, and, ike most people in taking
I'D something unknown. he was rather
skeptical and gave the method a severe test.
Eight midshipmen who never ''made
good in the languages were selected a. the
dog. They were given talking ma
chimes with the text books and Spanish
and French records. After few months
of study, when the final examination came
of, two of these young men passed the
highest examinations of the class and the
other six PASSED good. The machine
at once became part of the course Of
study, and 200 are now being used by the
midshipmen.
The system in vogue at the naval acad
envy is the result of deep investigation and
a careful study Of the sounds Of the two
languages, Spanish aud French. In Span
ish, for instance, there are forty
sounds which constitute, 50 to speak, the
scale Of sounds in that language, and around
these are grouped all the Spanish words.
The machine is not used in the class room,
but is an assistant in the study of the les
son. Should a student mispronounce
word he is told to refer to the sound-say
the twentieth, or whatever the number
may be. He goes to his room, selects the
record, and with the text book before him
listens, while the talking machine grinds
out again and again the sound which he
has failed to catch. until the correction
is firmly fixed in his mind Ii h. m odd
sight to see two future admiFals sitting
across the table from each other in their
severely plain room. holding the little rub
Der tubes to their ears learning 10 properly
speak foreign language By the use Of an
American toy The records are carefully
made, and sometimes fifty are wasted be
fore an absolutely correct one Is obtained
as the most perfect scholar even in our own
language will sometimes mispronounce
word, and the instructors are often com
PEELED TO refer TO the machine The Span.
ish records are made by Professor Cusaehs.
as are the text books which are used with
them. Professor Marion. also Of the naval
academy faculty, talks into the horn
for some Of the French records, but the
majority for that language are made by
Professor C. de Sumichrast, Of Harvard
University, who Is one of the most noted
linguists of this country. The taking
machine as an educator Is being used with
success at the Johns Hopkins University.
Columbia is giving it trial, and it will
become part Of the curriculum at West
Point in November Its possibilities are
many, and the use Of it viii undoubtedly
help the student who does not possess the
bump for languages. Il will save the
time and temper Of the instructor. Above /
all when introduced into the leading col /
leges and universities, 1t viii establish !
uniform standard Of pronunciation and send !
out students who will be able to speak cor,
rectly, as well as translate, the languages /
of the contineHt