Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1911-10-11
SCANDINAVIAN LANGUAGES
IN OUR COUNTRY
DISTRICT SCHOOLS
(By j. n. Lenker, D. d.

In article eight we suggested by Il
little object lesson from personal ex-
perience from one state for other
states, how Scandinavians and Ger
mans, while travelling for pleasure
or business, may study and agitate
this subject among country school
superintendent, high school princi-
pals, public librarians and editors of
English and fore en- papers. Ger
mans and Scandinavians meet every
where while travelling in the north
west and this travelling public have
it within their power to develop and
spread their mother tongue by speak
ing it on every OCCASION. Germans
can tell Germans and Scandinavians
seldom miss guessing their country
men upon first sight, when the first
words are exchanged, and one an
others names are heard. You can
easily tell if they are able and pleas
ed to converse in the language you
do not wish to forget or have forgot
ten. You should always be the first
to pry an opening to practice what
you think is best. At once you will
see whether it can be done, and if it
can, then do it, even if the other
party is not strong on the language.
Practice makes perfect. High schools
and secondary schools will thus be
helped in their new but difficult eff
forts Of raising the language stand
ard of our nation, by hearing and
speaking the great modern languages
in the business and social life Of the
community. 1t is a good thing for
both parents and children. Germans
and Scandinavians learn to under
stand one another's language and are
quicker to speak it than any foreign
tongue. Hence when they meet they
get along very nicely by each practic-
ing his own language and learning
better the language of his friend
This is hitting two birds with one
stone. Not only in conversation, but
in every way, they should learn from
one another. When they sing in So
cial or religious circles they should
sing, and thus learn, one anothe1's
music, instead Of practicing English
or Italian tunes, which neither party
can master. In farming, for exam
pie, as in language and music, and
in many other lines, Scandinavians
and Germans can learn more from
one another than from any Other
people; but when they both forget
their language, they cut the tie that
binds each to his fatherland and te
their countrymen scattered all over
the world, and also the ties that bin6
Germans and Scandinavians mucl
closer together than their American
children realize. It is important
therefore that their languages bt
maintained side bv side Of each 9th.
er, not only here in America but il
all foreign lands. When two NEE
who understand each others langu-
nge, either one can lead the othe1
to speak the language he prefers, il
not all the time, then part of the
time. Whenever any chance is Of
fered to speak your mother tongue
speak it. Never be the first to tur1
the conversation from it, but try tx
turn the conversation to the language
of your common fatherland. You
will understand and respect one an
other better. Doubtless you will be
helpful to one another, if not IL
trade, then in other ways. We are
not advocating that Scandinavians
and Germans should not learn Eng
ish, or japanese, our point is sim
ply that they should fortify them
selves against forgetting what they
know, and thus by thoughtless neg
lect suffer loss they will regret al
their lives. IF you can talk two
languages, then talk them, even il
YOU make mistakes. or YOU will for