Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1906-03-30
10 Simplify EnaIIsh Language.


To Simplify English Language.
Announcement was made of an on
ganization, including prominent men or
affairs as well as leading men OF letters,
has beer formed In New York to urge
the simplifcation OF English spelling,
This new body is called the simplif1ed
spelling board. 1t will appeal to all
who for educational or practical rea-
sons wish to make English spelllng
easier. Andrew Carnegie has under
taken TO pear the expense of the organi-
Zation. Mr.. Carnegie long has been con-
WINGED English might be made the
world language Of the future, and thus
one of the influences leading TO uniyer-
chief obstacle to it's speedy adoption Is
to be found in its contradictory and diff
ficult spelling.
The simplified spelling board contains
some thirty members, living in various
parts of the union Some of them are
authors of wild reputation; some are
professed scholars connected with lead
ing universities; some are editors Of the
foremost American dictionaries; some
are men distinguished in public life;
n some are men OF affairs. prominent
in civil life.
The membership is not yet complete.
| Out II now IuCluuGS 1udIICellOI All
drews of the University of Nebraska,
Justice Brewer OF the United States
supreme court, President Butler OF CO.
lumbia university, O. G. Blackmer OF
Chicago, Andrew Carnegie, S. L. Glenn
ems mark Twain), DR.. Melvil Dewey,
DR.. Isaac X. Funk, editor and pub
Usher OF the STANDARD Dictionary;
Lyman j. Gage, ex-secretary of the
treasury; Richard Watson Glider, ed
itor of the Century magazine; DR.. Will
liam Il. Harris, United States commits
sioner Of education and editor or
"Webster's International Dictionary:
Professor George Hempl of the Uni
versity OF Michigan, Colonel Thomas
Wentworth Higginson, Henry Holt,
Professor William James of Harvard,
President David Starr Jordan of Le-
land Stanford university, Professor
Thomas r. L~ounsbury Of Yale, Pro-
lessor Francis A. March OF Lafayette,
Professor Brander Matthews of CO.
lumbia, Judge Morrow of the United
States circuit court, California; DIR.
Benjamin E. Smith, editor, n DIR.
Charles p. CT. Scott, genealogical editor
OF the Century Dictionary; President
II. H. Seerley of the Iowa State Nor
NAL school, Cedar Falls; Colonel
Charles r. Sprague, president of the
Union Dime Savings institution; Pro-
lessor Calvin Thomas of Columbia, Mr..
E. o. Vale, lately editor of Intelli-
gence; DIR. William Hayes Ward, ed
itor of the Independent, and President
Woodward of the Carnegie institution
of Washington.
The establishment of the simplified
spelling board is the result of an eff
fort made within the last year to secure
the use, by men of position, of certain
simplified spellings, adopted some years
age by the National Educational as
| ISOLATION and now used by several i'm
portant publications. The response to
this request was cordial. Hundreds OF
signatures were received pledging the
writer's to use these simpler forms in
their personal correspondence.
The members Of the simplifed SPELL
ing board believe that the time is now
ripe for a forward movement. They
have learned the nature and the
strength OF the opposition to be over
come. They will not advocate change
merely for the sake of change. They
do not intend to urge any violent al
iteration In the appearance of familiar
words. They will not advance any ex-
treme theories. Tney will not expect
to accomplish their task In a day or in
a year.. They are willing to make haste
slowly, in the expectation OF overcom-
ing by degrees the prejudice existing
in " o. The present cumbersome
photography. They wish, in brief, to
expedite that process of simpliication
which has been going on in English, In
spite OF the opposition OF conservatives,
eve since the Invention Of printing,
notably in the omission of silent and
useless letters. Not so long ago al
ana was spelt almanack, and music
was musicK. In the last few years
technic has been winning acceptance
In place of technique, program has been
substituting itself for programme, cat
alog for catalogue. and tho for though.
These shorter forms are already be-
coming familiar; they may not as yet
be approved by the majority, but they
are no longer strange In the Eyes OF
the average reader, and they are found
in use in books by authors of repute
and In periodicals Of standing.
The simpliied spelling board will not
only lend its support to such simplifi-
cations by omissions, but it proposes
also to arouse a wider public interest
in the general question OF English or
biography. There Is a real need OF or
ganized effort to make English a better
instrument for the hundreds of millions
who will have to use our language be-
! fore the end of the twentieth century.
Although English is spreading more
rapidly than any other tongue. 1t has
the most illogical spelling of any one
OF the more important modern lam
guages.
The board intends to urge individuals
everywhere to exercise the privilege OF
.simplifcation n to encourage other
| organizations which are working to-
ward the same end or have shove an
interest in the cause.
The immediate activities OF the sim
plified spelling board Will be directed
by an executive committee chosen from
the members residing in New York. An
office will be opened IN New York TO
serve as headquarters for the work;
and from this office the campaign Of
education will be conducted by a com
petent staff. Local societies will be or
ganized wherever a group OF willing
workers can be gathered together.
Comprehensive plans are being mapped
out which Will take years for their full
accomplishment.
Better Prospects.
-. VI 90