Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-08-12

THE English language is a living
L language that can take care of itself
and is one that cannot bc subjected to
a fixed standard in style. purity or
even in spelling, in the opinion OF both
acting Provost Josiah II. Penniman and
Thomas d. O'Bolger. professors OF
English at the University, of Pennsyl-
vania.
Both scholars were commenting on
the suggestion of Robert Donald. chair
man of the Empire Press Union in
Canada. that English speaking univer-
stiles cooperate in establishing an
English institute" to set a standard
for the written and spoken language
and do for it what the French Academy
has done for the French tongue.
'I would favor the establishment OF
an English academy, composed OF self
apnointcd persons or those chosen by
some constituted authority. but only to
determine at various times the best
usage in English as practiced by the
cultured people of the country said
Doctor Penniman.
You cannot subject the English or
any other language to the fixed stand
ards of doctrinaries.' said Doctor
O'Bolger. "As result Of the restric-
tive standards of the French Academy.
there has been great increase in the
amount of slang practiced in that coun-
try. which would seem to indicate a
popular protest against standards OF
language purity
"You cannot crystalline into fixed
standards n country's language added
Doctor Penniman.
Language which is constantly chang
ing il merely matter>of convenience in
expressing thoughts and feelings. AS
these change from time to time, the
language must change with them.
New Expressions Demanded
There is a modern tendency in all
languages. but particularly noticeable in
this country, to make the language one
Of action. to shorten it. to speed 1t up.
This is notable in the tendency to con-
vert nouns into verbs. For instance,
few years ago well-known baseball
PLAYER neglected to touch second base in
a critical big league baseball game. So
as result we now have the verb, 70
Merklc,' I Merkle,' Thou Merklest.'
He Merklcs.' A person doesn' ride IN
n taxicnb any more, he takes.
Then again there Is tendency to
inject humOr into the language. Many
words and expressions of the day are
solely expressions of humor.
"Much of the slang or outre language
of Yesterday becomes the good usage OF
today.
There is also a great difference be-
tween the spoken and the written Ian
guagcs. They are in many cases so diff
fcrent and irreconcilable as to be al
most different languages.
"Some of the English heard on our
streets TODAY is really as good English
as the most professional type.
"Engish as she is spoke in writing
would almost look like foreign Ian.
euagc. English has also changed con-
sidcrably in meaning in succeeding gen
erations. Thus in Shakespeare time,
ono said Il learn while now to convey
the same meaning you would say i
teach.
Really the only approximation to q
standardization of the language which
wc have is the dictionary. 1t Is sig
nifcant fact that coined expressions
must be recognized when one considers
that hundreds of words are constantly
being added to the dictionary, while
many others are becoming obsolete
through general disuse'
without some way of setting a
Language down, it must inevitably con
stantly change. This has been illus
trntcd most effectively in the expert
cnrcs of missionaries who have endeav-
orcd to exchange languages with say.
age peoples. The result has always
been that both languages change"
Languages Must Change
THE English language is now as
nure as il ever has been" said Doctor
81 'Bolgpr. "1n fact II is the constant
change that keeps it pure, like a run
ming stream of water. Without these
changes the language instead Of becom.
ing a living language would be a dead
one. ] should say that languages are
very well able TO take care of them
selves.
"The English language has always
been a lively one. IL is a language in
which every one takes part, to which
every one contributes. The man In the
gutter plays-his part just as surely in