The National tribune., 1907-03-14
SPELLING REFORM.

SPELLING REFORM
DR.. J. Little, Bloomington, ILL.,, writes
his opinion concerning the spelling re-
form:
Editor National Tribune: The House
Committee on Appropriations has not
made a serious mistake in declining to
follow the Presidents lead in what yoi,
are pleased to call the spelling reform.
The provision adopted by the commit
tee is wise, sound, prudent and eminent
ly proper. The Engiish-speaking peo-
pie should follow the rules of spelling
established by Webster and other stand
ard and generally-accepte dictionaries
Of the English language. Orthograp ply
is a very important branch of EngIisl,
grammar, and what else can we do
than follow the spelling of the general
ly-accepted dictionaries of the English
language? Every student, and teacher,
and business man. and editor, and pro-
fessional man. and every other person
who writes, should have a dictionary at
his elbow. The spelling of all words in
common use is. now thoroughly estab-
lished, and there is no excuse for any
person to fhisspell word. The time
and space saved by the new spelling Is
a matter of no. consequence. To break
away from the long-established rules of
spelling common words Is a matter
worthy of the most serious considera-
ton If there Is anything that should
be permanently settled and established
in our language 1t is the spelling of
words. The pronunciation and mean
ing of words. certainly many of them,
Is determried by the spelling of them.
II do not regard the new spelling as Il
reform at all; It is complicating. disar-
ranging and uffsettling that which was
simple, arranged and settled. The schol-
arly and literary and learned men Of
England and America are opposed to
the spelling reform advocated by Presi-
dent Roosevelt. Long-estab!ished rules.
usages and methods in politics. religion,
literature, government and sociology
should not be changed for light and
transient causes. Conservatism is often
better than radicalism. and 1t should bd
known that change Is not always re-
form. For one I am very glad that the
Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States will probably adopt
the recommendation of the House COM
mittee that all printed matter ordered
by Congress shall follow the rules of
orthography established by Webster and
ether gcnerally-acceptc dictionaries of
the English language. 1t is not the
province Of the President nor Of Con-
gress to teach the people how to spell
or read. This important matter will oe
done by men and women better qualified
to do it.
We must take decided issue with our
correspondent in many of his state
ments. In the first place, we do not
know why DIR. Webster or DR.. Worcester
or any other individual who chooses to
write a dictionary and publish it should
be greater authority in settling the
spelling Of our common language than
the President Of the United States.
Spelling is purely matter Of usage and
custom. and in all civilized countries the
Chief Executive Is the final arbiter OF
usage and customs. He almost always
represents the very best thought of the
country, ne takes his action advisej!y
in accordance with the best counsel that
can be obtained. and what he says
should have far more weight than that
of any other authority in the country.
When our correspondent speaks of long
established usages and customs he for
gets that spelling is progressive
science, and 1t is constantly changing
and has changed radically since he was
a boy and learned to spell. The change
Is going on continually as people see the
of spelling and are adopting newer.
more convenient, sensible and logical
methods. All that the President did
was to recognizes a host Of changes that
have already Been made and adop,
some new a1d Very desirable ones. The
action of Congress was not based upon
logic or common sense, but was merely
spleeny of,tb2fst from the very many
men in that, bady who are piqued 1t
something or rlap other that the Presi-
dent has dome sand desire to stick pins
into him by'thesway of resentment.
1t is as absurd to cling to the old
methods Of spelling as it would be 20
insist upon riding in stage coaches in
these days Of railroads. A vast amount
of wholly UNNECESSARY labor is imposed
upon every child in learning our pres
ent cumbrous method Of spelling, which
is far behind that Of every other civil
lied people on earth. While We are
among the most progressive Of people
in most things, in the matter of spelling
we have Jagged far behind such slow
going old coaches as Spain. Italy, Dem
mark, Holland. Sweden and Norway.
When q child learns his letters and
their sounds he should be able to spell
any word without any further trouble.
That is the sensible system of orthog-
raphy. Our correspondent IL decidedly
in error in saying that the leading
scholars Of both England and America
supported the old spelling. An over
whelming majority OF the men who are