New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-20

OF safeguarding our mental wisdom by
silence or brevity, language and the
knowledge of languages figure as a
! factor Of prime Importance in the COM
mercial relations between the people OF
different nationalities. ........
( 1t is fact that the English language
( is the tongue most commonly used
/ throughout the world, and may be en-
ployed as q means of communication
between most OF the great commercial
centres, but even this great medium
! fails when trade is sought to be eN-
/ tended t. markets Of lesser magnitude.
but containing the nucleus and sinews
. for rich returns in the future. The
European war has opened a large field
of operations for American enterprise;
practically the whole Of the South
. American Continent is susceptible 10
| the trade influence. Of the United
| States. The opening of the Panama
+ Canal has seemingly brought nearer
! the markets of the west coast of South
America, with their millions of people
and but slightly developed resources.
| The way TO obtain trade is to go
among these people. to study them and
I their characteristics, to gauge their re-
! euirements and TO be able to identify
opportunities for commerce and trade
/ possibilities. If We desire to obtain
! their trade and keep il. We must at
least know the language of the people
with whom we are dealing or whose
/ trade cooperation we seek We must
concede that they have just as good a
! right TO the recognition, retention and
use of their language in connection
with commerce as we have of ours.
/ The people Of the United States have
recognized only family the immense
value Of linguistic ability when APP
piled as a factor in commerce. The
people of Europe have always per-
| ceived the advantages to be thus
| gained, and the education of their bust
ness men is not considered complete
unless it comprises a knowledge of one
or two commercial languages other
! than their own. This perspicuity on
! the part of our European trade COM
petitors. on the one hand, and our care
/ lessness in this regard, on the other
! hand. have done much to throw business
! in the direction of Europe when il
would otherwise have fallen 10 on:
share as a natural thing.
The present war brings the situation
home to us quite plainly. 1t is aXio-
matte that at is never too late 10
mend" Therefore it would seem to be
I the part of common sense for our edu-
/ cational institutions to place emphasis
upon language study, and particularly
upon the study Of what are known as
Commercial languages Spanish and
! Portuguese are the common Languages
Of South American countries, spoken
in more or less of pstois or dialect,
! but they are nevertheless the basic
means of communication.
The French language has always
been known Is the language Of
diplomacy, and if our relations with
! foreign countries arc to be extended
/ the study of the French language may
y be prosecuted with considerable profit
! j. is frequently urged by many that
. the study OF the French language is
/ becoming less necessary than former
! Is, on the assumption that its use as
commercial means of communication is
declining. This view is incorrect. II
, is clear that the fact of the great
! volume of trade Of the French nation
/ has been forgotten, and that that
! country represents an ever increasing
! factor in its share OF the commerce
| of the world; therefore, its language
( is entitled to rank, as a Commercial"
as we'll as a diplomatic, means of COM
, munication.
Private schools Of languages should
now have a golden opportunity to
prove their usefulness and efficiency.
( provided they make known their eX-
/ istcnce to the public and secure from
I it that support which should accrue
as the direct result of the present
trade situation.
All private schools have a chance at
this time Of specializing along lines of
study OF foreign languages. II would
seem to be psychological moment to
! be seiEs# and improved. The private