Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-26

~ people spoke English, and it oc,
"A cupied the fifth place amonr
i the languages. Today nearly
00,000, 900 people speak Eng.
Hsh and it occupies the first place
AT the present rate of growth Eng.
Iish may become the native tongue o.
the majority of mankind in about g
hundred years, and even now one of The
most important export articles of both
the United States and Great Britain i;
their language
If the Federal Government had q
statistical department to measure such
an exchange. 1t would find that incom-
parably more English words are export
ed from the United States to foreign
countries than words of foreign origin
are imported. It seems as If the Ian
guage were paying back the capital and
interest on its indebtedness to nearly
every civilized nation. The Tower Of
Babel is becoming Americanized.
This question has again been brought
to the fore through the controversy
centering around American talkies. A
newspaper dispatch from Brazil says
that alarmed by the rapidly growing
use of the English language since the
introduction of talking films in local
theaters. a member of the Sac Paolo
city council introduced a measure pro-
viding fine of $50 for each exhibition
of talking movies in any foreign Ian
guage.
Signor Mussolini has applied strong
arm methods to keep talkies out of
Italy and certain Mexican States have
proved themselves just as intransigeant.
English-language talkies have caused
France much concern in the Near East
where French, up to short time ago,
had a monopoly among the educated
natives. It is now the American ac-
vr.Infnk v.aNV,nr,olizoc IN
Constantinople and Cairo.
Germany Also Anxious.
The Germans, too, are anxious to
retain the supremacy of their language
along their eastern boundaries where
English-language talkies enjoy great
popularity. When the French and Ger
mans embark on an ambitious pro-
gram of native talkie production they
aim at much more than merely saving
an industry.
American talkies are being played
in Paris as well as Bucharest, Buenos
Aires as well as Toxic. In most coun-
tries they have been received cordially.
Internationally-m minded people have
hailed them as boom to making the
world kindred in thought and its ex-
preston.
The more imaginative of them have
foreseen the age when the Turk will
talk in English to his Greek neighbor
and when there will be no more con-
fiicts in the Balkans. They suggest
that in the century of the Kellogg pact
and of the Raritan camp conversations
it is fitting that serious effort should
be made to find a medium of ex-
preston not limited by national from
tiers.
This race Of the languages to assert
themselves in their sphere of influence
has placed the small countries in a par
ticularly advantageous position. They
ind themselves wooed by the great
powers Of the West. They cannot, of
course, afford to produce talkies in their
own native idioms. for which the mar
ket would be extremely limited
Hence they have to fall back on the
alternative of selecting among foreign
productions in the English, French,
German and possibly Russian Ian
guages. Only the future can tell what
effect this will have on the languages
of the small countries. Will their new
generations grow up with some knowl-
edge of an international language?
Grows by Leaps and Bounds.
The figures quoted at the outset indi-
cate at any rate that English will prob
ably make more converts than any
other language. It was due to its ire
mendous driving power that it grew by
leaps and bounds during the last CEN
fury and is growing with uncanny speed
at the present moment. In the nine
tenth century it was England's indus
trial renaissance which made the world
study the rules Of English grammar
simultaneously with Great Britain's
rise as the greatest industrial power
It became one Of the leading cultural
powers. Other nations following her
all -
sity of taking over her industrial termi-
nology In certain fields of knowledge
English was fast developing into an in
ternational language. Moreover, 1t be-
came the language of the sea.
In the Far East English is the "lingua
franca," the means of communication
among the different nations. Although
Japanese and Chinese are racially very
much alike, they speak to one another
in English Even Chinese who speak
different dialects find it more conven-
lent to carry on their conversation IN
English
After the World War the rapid rise
Of the United States afforded the main
attraction to foreign nations to learn
English Millions consider the English
language the key to the riches of
America. the treasure house of the
world. Tens of thousands of prospeC-
tive immigrants find vicarious consoia
ton in the study of English when they
realize that American immigration laws
and their financial condition make It
impossible for them to come to this
country.
Want to Trade With U. s.
Nearly all the world wants to do
business with the United States, and
there Is no better way of catching the
elusive dollar than talking to it in its
own tongue. America leads the world
IN many sports and weighs the export
balance Of its language by giving the
other countries large number of sport
terms. Finally, Americanization is now
political doctrine, almost a religion,
and there is a widespread tendency to
go to the fountain head of all knowl-
edge, the great human documents of
America.
Every time America adds a new name
to her roll of honor the foreign stu
dents of English increase. When
Charles Lindbergh dropped out of
heaven at LIE Bourget airfield, Paris
found itself short of English teachers.
The day following his arrival the larg-
est Partisan daily announced that the
members of its stan would receive
thorough instruction in English. 1t
would be awkward, the French must
have thought. that reporters should be
unable to interview the heavenly Wis
itors.
Germany has made the most rapid
advance in the sffidu ~ Ef1Olfeia oV,,0,,0