The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-09-03
THE NEW LANGUAGE.

Among the many dreams of enthu- siasts the idea of universal lan- guage holds a prominent place. A language in which people of all civ lized countries could speak and write understandingly without need of in- terpreters would of a surety be val uabie acquisition to the stock of human knowelge. and would save an immense amount of worry and trouble among the human beings of difrerent national ities who in this age of travel are so constantly meeting and passing
 It has been but few years since there was much and hopeful talk of volapuk, a language which was enthusiastically exploited in some sec- tions as the long expected medium of inter-communication between all the peoples of the earth. Books were printed in it, schools and clubs were formed to promote and extend 1t, and we were assured that it was the long exploited universal language. In many respects 1t seemed to fucx very much of perfection, but it was hoped and claimed that its apparent uncouthness would disappear as people became fa- miliar with the new style.
 But volapuk was not stayer. It failed to fill a 1ong-felt want. It didn't catch on. The general public failed to get onto i,s curves" or It's angles, rather, for 1t was so full or bumps and corners and angles that the common people never could absorb 1t. It may possess some good points but they are not of the attractive sort, and if 1t has not been consigned to
 the tombs of the CapuIets" 1t has at least ceased to be talked about. There
 may still be some who cling to it, and
 who hope to see it adopted. but if
 there are any such they are not say ing much about it. We suspect that volapuk has fizzed out.
 Now we are told that new artt- ficial language has been invented and 1 that it is going to abide with us and all mankind. It is the invention of one Dr. Zamendorf, of Warsaw, Pol and, who named 1t Esperanto, which may be derived from the French "es- perance," meaning hope, as its pro- moter, discoverer or expIoiter hopes it will fill the aching void In language. There was lately held a convention of the enthusiasts who are endeavoring to popularize the new lk-machinery. We are told that 1t ss being taught
 in many French schools, and all sorts of predictions are put forth concern
 ing the language which IS to revolu- tionize the world. It may be a suc- cess, but we are not betting on it.
 And yet there are not wanting those who both hope and believe that English will some day be the universal language of earth. It is now used by more people than use any other, and the time seems coming when 1t will be the tongue useo py all civilized beings everywhere. But we must say that the English is sadly in need of improvement. In some respects it is the most illogical language ever used by civilized people. If some of those who are clamorous for the universal language would devote some of their time and talents to the task of sim plifying and perfecting our own 1t would be a work which Is badly need ed. There are so many irregularities and incongruities in it that the die tionary makers are themselves at sea
 over many words, and the best they
 can do for us 1t to give us choice of
 evils. If we must have a universal language let 1t be perfected English.