The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-11-09
LUCILLE LOOFBOURROW
WRITES BEST THEME
ON BETTER ENGLISH

A theme written by Lucille Loot
bourrow has been adjudged the best
submitted to H. o. Makey. head of the
English department OF Morton high
school, who Is conducting the local OBJ
servance Of Better English Week"
Miss Loofbourrow's composition fol
lows:
Why isn't one way of speaking
English as good as another, as long
as people can understand your This
question was asked by a person who
was resenting an adverse criticism.
I'm the first place. the English Ian
guage is subject to much abuse in the
different sections of our country. 1t
should really be the pride of those
who use 1t to keep st free from the
impurities which are bound to creep
in if every person is not careful about
the words he uses. Keeping a Ian
guage beautiful is very desirable.
Common Language Needed
Speaking a common language is
doubtless an important means of unit
ing the separate divisions of coun-
try. Many nations have broken up
principally because they did not have
common language to bind them to-
gether. Colonies of a country which
have not the language of their ruling
nation are very hard to keep subjected
Other territories have united under
one government because they have
had the bonds of similar speech
Since this is, such an important factor.
is it not important that dialects do
not get too firm a hold on section?
To be sure, new geographical condi-
tons bring up new expressions Just
as our English is different from that
in England because of the difference
in locality; but every resident of the
United States should have the future
of his country enough at heart to take
care that in his English impurities do
not occur.
Immigrants bring foreign words
and accents into our speech. Foreign
ers need to be Americanized by being
taught to use our language.
Should Seek Perfection
'If not for his country's sake, one
should speak good English for his
own betterment The Impression one
makes on another is largely deter
mined by the kind of English he uses.
Since this is the most usual mode of
expressing ones thoughts. there is
every reason why one should strive to
perfect his speech. The good CONVEX
sationalist is always in demand, and
the person who can carry his idea
across to the listener, whether It be
in politics, business, or what not,
without laundering in the attempt, Is
the successful person in this age.
Then, too, by speaking correctly
one makes an impression on people
of consequence-people who are valu-
able friends to have. By conversation
with this sort of people ones own
manner of thought is smoothed and
his interests are made broader.
Perhaps after discussing why good
English should be spoken it would be
well to say something about how to
{ improve ones speech.
schools, of course, are the most
effective HOWS in the encouragement
OF better English. English courses are
required and in most other classes
some speaking or writing is done
About once every semester drive is
put on for a week in behalf of better
English.
Special Effort Needed
''It is hard, however, for the student
although he is constantly being drilled
in English in school, to speak proper
IN Will pcOpl6 WI w I1Ot opCch NCAA
He must make a special effort to scat
Z ter what he has learned among others
who need to be helped.
Zone can help himself a great dea
in the cultivation of good English /
he is really careful at all times o
the words he uses. By reading exten
sively and hearing good speakers tall
one can develop very much, for col
rect English is determined by the US
age of the best speakers and writer
of the day One should also choos
friends from among those who speal
we'll
"If one carefully watches his speec
he is made a better citizen of hi
country, better company for his az
quaintances, and has better chanc
to exert his influence by the prope
expression of thought"