The sun., 1918-12-01
Great Importance to
Americans of knowledge
of Romance Languages

ITO the end that Americans Of edu-
cation and general culture shall
become billngual. many new
forces are at work to-day. This is but
another outcome of the upheaval through
which the world has been passing. Eng
fish is and should be the one dominant
language among the heterogeneous
populations Of the forty-eight States, but
whereas 1t fully suffices for our national
needs. those needs have with sudden
strangeness become local.
The eminent value of linguistic knowl-
edge In all the avenues of intercourse
between us and the rest OF mankind
ought to go without saying, but beyond
that there is another great gain. BY the
time you have delved into the depths of
your neighbor nations idioms and vo-
cabulary you begin TO see his point Of
view, TO know something of his heart
and mind, and your own insularity of
thought passes away to be replaced by
a breadth of vision and sympathy Of
lasting benefit to yourself and the worl l.
Among the earth's babel Of tongues
how are we to choose one that shall be
the most useful addition to our own?
Without fear of contradiction II may be
said that Spanish and French offer the
greatest range of utility to the average
person. A good criterion Of the future
value Of these languages lies in the fact
that they are being substituted for Ger
man in American schools and colleges
1t Is a result OF the war, OF course, and
the question Of for how long German
should be suppressed as a school study
Ia beside the mark. but sentiment alone
Is not responsible for the change. Edu-
cauonal authorities realize the practical
superiority of French and Spanish to the
coming generation.
OF present Importance is the impera-
tive need that large numbers of Ameri-
cans become familiar with these Ian
guages.
The Language Institute, in the Trl-
bune Building. New York, established
in the heart of the city's business &C
tlvitles, is readily accessible TO every
one 1t had its inception in the well
considered plans of its founders. bust
ness men with the most practical aims
in view. Its facilities Of instruction
should appeal strongly to those OF serl-
Gus purpose; its methods are divorced
from the fixed academic style OF teach
ing; its native professors, with full
understanding OF the demands Of the
institute, seek the shortest route TO the
students correct but free and unembar-
TdSStu use VI L ItllCll, Spanish anu ia i
Ian as those languages are used in the
street, Office and home.
The objection thought by the Ian
guage Institute to he the most frequent
deterrent to the average person when
deciding whether or not 10 begin study
ing new language Is the seeming
stupendousness Of the task confronting
him. Such an idea Is based upon n
wrong conception. One cannot presume
to absorb the contents Of n French
dictionary or acquire literary French in
few months. Let II be remembered.
though. that the American university
graduate rarely has a vocabulary OF
moro than 5000 or 1000 English words.
and that the modest number OF 500
serves ordinary requirements very well.
The same is true OF French and Span
ish. Surely no intelligent person need
falter before learning 500 new words.