The San Francisco call., 1906-03-25
URGES CHANGED
SPELLING RULES
Andrew Carnegie Explains
His Advocacy of Project
to Reform the Language
MANY WORDS UNCOUTH
English, Destined to Become
Universal Tongue, Must
Be Brought Up to Date

HOT SPRINGS Ark, March N-An-
drew Carnegie made statement today,
giving his views on the proposed reform
of English spelling. He said:
From Chaucer's time and before, till
now, our language has been constantly
changing and improving, not under any
rule or system, but simply as occasion
has required new words and new spelling.
1.-THE great Oxford dictionary now undAr
publication gives the history of each
word and shows that words creep into our
language in the most haphazard manner
A new word expresses a new want or an
old want better than the word in use did
and so forces itself into use. What is
slang one year is correct English a few
years later. Thus our language is en-
riched 1t is slow process, but steady
and sure one. All the struggles of pur-
lists are helpless against it.
1.-The organized effort I have agreed TO
finance is not revolutionary Far from it.
It's action will be conservative. Word
after word, it will endeayor to improve
the spelling and the language: slowly, of
course, but Fastening the pace when pos
sible.
"The editors who are disposed to ridi-
eule the effort themselves use words and
especially spellings which their predeces-
sors of century ago would have de-
nounced as degrading literature. The
editors of the next century will, in turn,
marvel at the uncouth spelling of our
present scfibeS.
sSince our language has been con-
structed through uneeasing change lit
erary men should welcome new words
and new spelings with fayoring eye,
since 1t is by these alone that further i'm
provement can come. Scholars de-
nouneed plow for plough, for instance;
but plew has been accepted. So with
many words that will readily occur to the
reader.
Our language is likely TO prevail in
the world and we may hope it is to be-
come finally the universal language, the
most potent of all instruments for draw
ing the races together, insuring peace and
advancing civilization. The foreigner has
the greatest difficulty in acquiring 1t be-
cause of its spelling. This is. at least,
his chief obstacle, for its grammar is
easy.
Hundreds of scholarly men have
agreel to use improved spelling for
twelve words. These words are already
we'll started in actual use. Other simpli-
fications will be suggested If meriteri-
Gus they will be accepted.
Teachers have assured me that chill
dren would be- saved more than years
instruction if5our spelling were simplifed.
Why the perverse 'ough spelling should
be continued I cannot understand. We
understand tho and it expresses exactly
the. same sense as though and expresses
the sound better. The change is at once
obviously advantageous and l find many
already using it in writing and some OF
these are British authors Indeed, tho
with the supeffluous aposrrBphe. abounds
in British authors from Addison down.
We just drop the apostrophe, That tho
will get into general use is certain our
successors will smile at the 'ough' spell
ing as we do a lay at what we called
the queer spelling of Chaucer-
"In trying TO hasten the use of .simpii-
fed spelling and to improve our own
language for the struggle for first place,
which is even today upon u.s. we are en-
gagged in a most useful work. hope
that thoughtful people will give this i'm
portant and conservative reform eonsid-
Grafton and resolve to use at least two or
three simplified words and thus range
themselves with US in our effort to carry
on the uneeasing work of improving our
mother tongue and adapting it for It's
noble purpose and high destiny"