New-York tribune., 1904-10-02

fly has yet been attained in its notation [-l--'sl
every dictionary uses d key Of its o"n WIN -
useful only 10 the reader OF t-aL pax 'L---1
tIonary whoever wishes 70 consult seVefa' oIe-
,io,zras ras 10 learn as nnauy different keys, and
whenever he wishes 70 ascertain the pr2nlAcla-
ton % q word he has 70 consult me Ae. a. me
bottom Of the PAGE IN the beginning oI the 1ooA
Recently. however. there has been marked ten
dency on the part Of dictionary makers 10 use the
same symbols for speech sounds. As c14Hln@-
ZION Of this movement the Boston University pian
designs 10 reDlace the multiplicity of keys cy a
single key. as perfect as Il can oe hia1e --i -
the aupcst possible discussion ana eAF'-- --iii-'-
ton BY q commission composed of the iorenost eA
narts in This line Of research. By slight moainca-
tons such as will not interfere with leglDlJg' 'I
Is thought thai the number Il letters can 1e IN
creased from twenry-six 20 nlHl1e' 'Aat WI
suffice 70 represent all the sounds or tle lea'--Hs
languages.
In English about forty letters would be required
Several letters even now are used in several forms
in Roman and italics "a and g. for example, ana
II script the variety is still greater BY assigning
to each OF these forms definite sound tortE leIlsrs
may easily be provided without nventlng new let
ters or resorting 70 the use Of diacritical marks
Should this key come into general use n diction-
aries It would impress itself upon The memory OF
dictionary users OF all natonaties and enable them
at a glance 10 pronounce correctly any word writ
IN that key
As a preliminary measure Boston University has
a
hers OF the American Pathological Association, who
will meet il St Louis about the middle OF this
month where the chief philologists OF the world
viii be assembled a second circular will soon be
sent TO all university professors soon as the
faculties reassemble. The circular asks the phol-
ogists 10 answer these questions:
- II oossibe 10 devise universal alpha bet 10
80 a. n key pronGI citation in al dictionaries
~ me leading languages II 50, Is II desirable that
stch a key De adopted by the Dictionaries? Is IL
Tossble TO give this key such l0.n is 70 render II
most convenient also FOR ordinary writing and
nri1ting, thus establishing universally recognized
nbonetic spelling, which reader may readily
ms key? Would q universal key alphabet be IN
nd 70 learning the pronunciation OF Io.siSn lam
-iiag6s? IL so, would That fact contribute 70 rem
3er This key alphabet land therefore the phonetic
spesling) more familiar tc I large portion or the
r. il be rue that by means Of 4 phonetic spelling
children learn 10 read ard write IN ! Jew weeks.
and master even the traditional spelin more
readily than by the present method, Wou II DC au
,yisable teach them the phonetic spel4Iilg nrstf
II ay this means the rising generation becomes
NECESSARY or advisable that the TRADITIONAL spelling
i1e retaiueG2
DO you tt!nlk that IN agreement on universal
alphabet can be reached satisfactotIIy uy, CORE
Fpondence alone. or Is IL desirable ttt an .ipa pet
intended 70 be used by al nations Iol atsS - S.tIe
be given ~ The outset he full beHsIt -.ll u4s-
ctIssiOn b. the foremost authorities ~ t4i u -I
OF expert type designers. 10 give tnet ! ogtIgn -
Tie form Of the letters ar required for "fltln- and