New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-19
TO THE EDITOR
ON "SIMPLE SPELLING"
Correspondent GiUes Reasons for
Opposing Nezo Scheme.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir; Without disparagement Of movement which
looks toward betterment in any degree It would
seem from a fair analysis Of the purpose Of the
sinplined spelling scheme that concessions are
offered to the side Of haste and unhnish in learn
Ing rather than to the side Of higher education and
solid linguistic culture The latter would seem to
be the better aim. At the offset II should be
membered that we are not the sole propretors OF
the English language. England and her colonies
and the vast number Of English speaking foreign
ers In all countries have voice in the matter.
Il certainly would not be the part of wis
dom 10 set up an American language at variance
with the English language as spoken elsewhere. II
our language IS taken whole, there is by far
less grievance on the written side than the
oral side-that is. there IS infinitely more bad speak
Ing than there is bad spelling.
II is a very old complaint that English spelling
is difficult. II IS equally old adaze that Bad
workTnen complain Of their tools" There poor
spoilers among the best scholars and there are
excellent spoilers among those who cannot claim
aught in scholarship The words most held up to
ridicUle, such cough" laugh" etc. are sell
dom spelled wrongly, even by those only partially
educated. II you take number Of young children
just emerging from the one-syIlable class you Will
find that they can spell light" fight" etc, With
out difficulty although the ''gh' seems TO have no
place. and these words they never forget. Where,
then. is the dfHculty7 And still more important
in these premises: Where IS the simpidcauon TO
Gums III OIlleSs Ll6 written language Is reduced
to an arbitrary phonetic basis which would mean
new written language, closing every avenue in
the present literature of the world to the children
Of the coming generations. how much can be really
accomplished? The so-Caled simpltfed form would
certainly leave the old heads all befuddIed while
the young heads would find any non-phonetic spell
ing tust as difficult TO learn. Hit spells hit"
but no one can claim that in the spelling II sounds
so. Far be It, however, from who has given
some thirty years serious thought TO this question
to make light OF the difficulties. During that time
the language has IN many respects so far as spell
ing is concerned. corrected itself Many changes
have been made, such as cutting out a consonaut
deemed TO be unnecessary or dropping a final
vowel TO leave consonRnt ending. But these
changes have been very gradual and according to
no special rule. 1t may be that the immense
amount OF wisdom and learning represented by
the names Of the new spelling committee may be
productive Of some exhaustive system Of change
On some consistent basis, though it must be urged
again that due regard be paid to other English
speaking countries
OF Mr. Carnegie that he has aught in view but the
Denent OF the race. Every act speaks the desire
ne masses snau nave equal chances Of edu-
20 De hoped now that he has touched language, he
language only We need a standard Of pure Ian
stuags on the oral side more than need any
Change or spelling. The spelling as il is We ga
get along with, but the gradual extinction of The
beauty Of spoken language should fiIi ms Win
beauty Of ugIiness" so far as The sou7d ~
our language is concerned Be this as it MAY
i IS no reason why We should sacrifice the
beauty we have, no matter what IL is called
no less than TO uanspose cOnsonants should
tendency besets those who should stand FOR ia 5iis
geage IN It's purest form Three students from one
OF our largest universities were discussing theatre
parry Two or them spoke Of theatre pardy"
Gina ting short o sound we have il in the word
yacht seems 10 be following the lost arts A re-
he
IN C[eF man ne answer is Hat err and the
eiL AoS one IN Il HuIufeq discovers that the short
Q IN hot has been substituted by the long al
as IN father. Men-and highly educated men, too
lax or dahlers' and "cahlers" for dollars and
collars, The beautiful liquid EEL as we get IL i'm
melt pelt, etc. by raising the risible muscles
seems 70 De going out entirely. A dictionary Of
nown has sounded the kueI of one of our most
delicate and graceful endings "ity.' characterized
that purity" may be pronounced -nUrart vs..
CHASTITY may be pronounced "cnasterty'': sin
certify may be pronounced sincerely" because
common usage gives the authority This ea-7s
common usage is playing havoc too great - 10
fully entered into here, and what a pretty stare ~
set by the vulgar. the careless the untaIIgbr me
One Of the highest members Of the legal p-ofes-
sion recently delivered an address, and it was
the subject should be distorted IN mere rattle of
high pitched twang. The stage realizes the neces-
impressed beyond description by what IS no more
than the correct placing Of vowel sounds with well
when addressing his fellows 50 adOrn his speech
that the sound is pleasing 10 the ear az the
sense IS convincing 70 the intellect? We need a
qe!l!llJe STANDARD OF pronunciation, definitely
held, and II Is earnestly hoped that In the move
forward the institution Of such win not be over
looEed. IT NJ. CaInegle should be the pioneer
this he would be doing something for the refine
;nent and better taste IN Language vel worthy OF
No 325 East 10Th street New Yor1I CIV