Evening journal., 1919-11-05

PHILADELPHIA. Pa, Nov. 5.-Prom-
inent professors OF English in various
colleges and public schools here say
there is a marked tendency toward de-
generation OF English since the war.
Service men, imbued with war camp
slang" have influenced others. espec-
tally school children, TO speak the
language OF the camps, they say.
"Slang. like popular music. comes
and goes, according TO Stanley Iarnall,
principal Of the Germantown Friends
School. Like that same rag-tlme
music. it leaves its imprint on the
speaking public and tends TO demoral-
ize not only the English language. but
the characteristics Of the people them
selves says siT. Yarnall.
slang may be vulgar, lazy or
CLEVER" added Mr.. Yarnall, "and GER
talnly, slang Of the clever sort has its
place. The idea now IS simply to in
still in The minds OF school children
and adults the difference In kinds OF
slang.
"The vulgar kind that might char
acterize as 'muckerish," Is the sort that
demoralizes. IL leads its users to vul-
gar thinking and vulgar habits. There
is the slovenly slang, used by the men,
tally lazy person who doesn't want TO
stop 10 think OF proper words"
As an example OF "lazy slang" the
principal told an incident from one Of
his class rooms, He had asked a pupil
70 bring some text books 10 the room.
There's a whole mess Of them in the
cupboard" volunteered another boy.
Immediately he blushed and took a
note book from his pocket and began
10 write.
Whats the matter, Charles?" asked
Mr.. Yarnall.
That's the third break I've made
today-using slang." said the boy, "and
I'm keeping track OF IT,"
What should you have said?" asked
Mr.. Yarnall.
s"Oh. guess I should have said,
There's an awful lot"
There are a few" said Mr.. Yarnall
''who contend that slang Is character
istically American; that Il typlaes
Americas idea OF getting there the
quickest way and really shows orig
inality and certain kind OF efficiency.
/ believe, however, that the person
who uses slang will fsll out OF the efil-
cheney class because slOvenly speech
will lead to other slovenly habits.
"The use OF slang IS not the only
thing leading toward degeneracy OF the
language. English experts have found
that Americans are prone to slide over
their vOwels. They do not enunciate
clearly.
"The average person pronounces
American as though it were spelled
AmuTican. Ten is often pronounced
tin. We are paying special attention
20 oral English IN this school because
( believe that IS one Of the best ways
10 teach the language. Children are
encouraged TO bring their work TO
class IN outline form, then tell the
story or composition to the teacher.
The big thing Is to make the children
conscious Of their own speech. II they
stop to think they will speak properly.
And there Is a third factor IN good
English. That Is understanding OF the
meaning Of words. It IS astonishing
how many people do not know the
meanings OF even the commonest
words. Frederic Irland has made tests
along this line. An Americsn-born boy
who had studied English eleven years
In school, gave such definitions as
these: Pomp, a dancing slipper; gen.
ealogical, gentle, kind; chronic, a rec
ord; stamina, an excuse; dlaphanous,
strong headed; hieroglyphic, a heredi-
tary gift; eugenlcs, a study OF Ell
quette; phenomena, reasons for not
doing what should have been done;
parable. capable Of being peeled; sym
postum, sympathy in verse.
Il think that definitions should be
made an important part OF spelling.
With thorough understanding Of words,
and frequent oral use Of them, chill
d-en will naturally develop the habit
Of good English speech"