Evening star., 1922-10-01
ENGLISH SEEMS DESTINED
TO BE WORLD LANGUAGE
Representative Fess Points Out the Phe.
nomenal Spread of Our Mother Tongue.
Factors That Encourage Its Growth.

German. although q vigorous tongue,
| as shown by it's growth. is not a con-
tender for the honor. The English
more than doubles the French and is
far beyond the German. 1t is growing
by leaps and bounds.
The English language. it must be
taken into consideration, is supported
by two Of the most energetic, de-
termined and enterprising national
tiles of history; nations best designed
for linguistic growth. 1t possesses
elements OF growth not possessed by
other languages. 1t is a combination
of romance and Teutonic tongues.
These go to the people who speak
| rather than the language spoken.
!! Need Of World Language.
Is The Anglo-Saxon are less tied to
the soil. Like the Hebrew, he is
more given to enterprise which seeks
new lands. AS a trader his wares are
found in every port Of the world. In
dustriallsm by aid Of the agencies of
communication Is making the world
but a neighborhood. The application
wireless-permits the resident of
Hongkong to read at his breakfast
table the latest news Of his Ameri-
can neighbor's activities on the other
side of the world. while both in COM
mon observe the doings Of the rest of
the world. This nearer relationship
invites. if it does not demand, an
international language-which schol-
ars are growing more and more con-
vinced will be English.
Recent efforts for q newly con-
structed language are recalled. No
artificial language Is likely ever to
develop to supply such necessity. On
the other hand. English Is supported
for such position: First. by the ease
with which 1t IS learned; second, the
literature which appeals to the edu-
Gated Of all the world: third. charac-
ter of the Anglo-Saxon in trade
ability. which compels intercommu-
nication; fourth, the spread of this
language through the agencies of
commerce, which has already made 1t
the vernacular in two great nation
alities and the second language in
much Of the world.
Our own country has long been
known as the greatest training deld
for the spread Of this tongue. At an
early period we adopted the common
school system, and later made public
education compulsory. To our land
como almost all the nationalities Of the
earth, bringing with them their own
vernacular. At an early period many
Of these vernaculars were the only
language spoken by them. But
through the agency of the public
schools English entered these homes,
and in many, If not most, cases en-
tirely supp1anted in time the native
tongue. One by one the language OF
the immierant-gave way to the
language Of this country of their
adoption. In this way this country
for the spread of English in the other
lands.
OMcial Support.
For some years there has been
growing up a strong sentiment not
only to make English the language
taught in the public schools, but to
refuse the use Of public funds to
teach any other. This sentiment is
grounded. Representative Fess points
out. upon the growing belief that by
immigration dangerous dosmas are
being imported into this country and |
promulgated through q foreign
tongue.
During the world war this fear was
greatly augmented and gave q new
impetus to a demand for English as
the ono language to be taught. There
is a cultural value in the study Of
other languages which will not be
The position of the United States
before the world, linked with the
power and influence Of the British
empire In all matters international,
will generate a new impetus for maxi
ing English the diplomatic language
as It long ago became the commercial
language Of the world. The recent
conference on the limi-
tation of armament, held here in I
gives point to this state |
ment.
with the Inevitable cumulative Inn |
portance Of economic America to the
world. her far-reaching influence on
the spread Of popular government |
among other peoples which demands
a greater regard for popular educa-
tion, the languages spoken by the
citizens Of this republic, representing
almost every nation Of the earth. will
be further stimulated through self
interest of the nations associated with
US. |