Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-06-21
RUSSIAN NOT
HARD TO LEARN
American Needs for the Flu
ture Thousands Who Can
Speak the Language.

Washington. June 21.-'why not
learn Russian: 1t Isn't nearly SO
difficult as is popularity supposed, and
America needs for the war. today and
the commercial reconstruction after
the war a large number of Intelligent
citizens who can use the language"
Question. suggestion and patriotic
reasoning are made on the RESPONSE
bility of the United States bureau Of
education. on the staff Of which Dr..
Glen Levin Swiggett has BEEN con-
Quoting expert investigation into the.
possibility of equipping larger num-
bers of Americans with languages
and information that will At them to
sustain and rebuild the fabric Of in
ternational relationship in the future.
DR.. Swisgett says that all, the as
sumption Of difficulty comes because
with the Russian alphabet ana its
Greek letters, the Russian grammar
and its many lenses, and all the para
phernalia of, scholastic lore. He in
Inmates that the absorption of this
has been altogether toe difficult for
the Russians themselves. because he
cites the fact that hardly four per
cent of the Russian millions over got
to the point Of going to school to
SAAOlA ONelI 4041S O08Os AuCy CAu
all talk 1t, though.
A proper method Of acquiring the
language as DR.. Swiggett outlines It.,
involves only the simple process of
learning a few Of the simpler words
and phrases That Smainstay daily in
%tercourse and thereafter absorbing
some more. BY dint of practice and
a sound memory, which he considers
no more diffcult Of exercise than Is
the American a for the latest popu-
lar song, a modest Russian vocabu-
larry can be acquired. Then: II it is
desired, the books can be. consulted
and an ambitious young American
can do more with the language than
many Russians. Afterward he would
have a career.
Yet in spite Of this ease, DR.. swis-
gett finds that only ten educational
Institutions in the United States at
tempt, to teach Russian, and only
three of those have courses that are
designed to qualify students in the
spoken language.
How different the story reads for
England" he says. "of IL UNIVERSE
ties reported, nine teach Russian. OF
II schools Of the type Of Elton, Rugby
and Harrow, 10 offer it, and Of Is
city school systems, all maintain
classes.
i nave no Wish 10 MAKE a Of1oI Tor
the study Of Russian for any purpose
other than the establishment Of ways
and means whereby U nation may
come to know modern Russia better,
to create q way for the coming ex-
change Of ideas, and wares that must
be mutually helpful. That way lies
through commerce. exercised on a
higher plane than the mere barter OF
products, for immediate and there
fore selfish gain. :
"1 wish TO call attention to Rus
sia's great need for engineers. Our
technical schools have their eyes on
the nan market of that country.
While related only indirectly to COM
merce, constructive engineering work
is yet a great commercial asset for 4
nation, and we should endeavor to do
our share in meeting Russia's need in
Let US now urge the immediate
study of Russian for commercial
purposes. Our nation has a peculiar
message for Russia, and possesses
thereby a distinct advantage. This
message car " delivered best by our
commercial representatives. We shall
need in consequence q large number
Of men prepared Immediately to
trade with Russia on the unselhsh
basis Of fair exchange, and the spirit
Of a real communication NJ rnmmArrA -