Improved Means or Apparatus to be Used for Learning Languages.
Year: 1888

page_text: Improved Means or Apparatus to be Used for Learning Languages.
I, HENRY ALLEN LAING of Grosvenor View, Blackman Lane, Leeds in the County
of York, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:—
The object of my invention is to provide for a student of languages a means
whereby he is enabled to practice the forming of sentences with a less expenditure of
time and labour than hitherto.
In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 shews looso strips of cardboard or other
material containing words and sentences in English, and Fig. 2 shows their application
to reading board.
In every sentence of grouping of words and particles which is the principle of any
given idiom, there are certain positions any of which a particular word or particle
may occupy, whereas on the other hand there may be other positions from which the
character of the idiom excludes such particle.
In the various columns shewn at Fig. 1, the words and parts of sentences are so
arranged that any word or part of sentence in any one column can be used with any
word or part of sentence in any other column, so that after placing the strips or
columns in the reading board, which is effected by sliding them under the front
plate A, each strip containing the words or parts of sentences may be moved up or
down at pleasure and the words which come together in a line at the aperture B
(Fig. 2) may be read together and form a sentence or part of a sentence, so that by
moving the columns independantly of each other the changes in the construction of
sentences are very considerable.
The strips containing words or parts of sentences or sentences in the columns can
be withdrawn, and other strips containing words, parts of sentences or sentences,
arranged in a similar manner as the above described substituted in order to complete
a full range of sentences ordinarily required in a language.
For the purpose of learning any foreign language I provide sheets or plates divided
into columns, containing words or parts of sentences in each column or sheet corre
sponding with the words or parts of sentences contained in the columns on the

page_text: moveable strips. Each column in the English and Foreign language is provided with
a corresponding number, so that when, as in the German language, the words or parts
of sentences do not come in the same positions as in the English, the number of the
column will shew the position of the words or parts of sentences which have the samo
meaning as the English words or parts of sentences, so that the student can readily
see the arrangement of words perculiar to such languago.
In the practice or use of the above described mechanical means, the student reads
the sentences in the first instance as they appear on the sheets and strips, these one
after the other being brought in sight at the aperture B and after he has obtained a
thorough acquaintance with the sentencos as they one by one come to his view, he
becomes familiar with the meaning of the words and idioms in each column in the
language representing the same words or parts of sentences in his own; he then can
slide the strips up or down at pleasure on the board bringing thereby different words
or parts of sentences in a line with other words or parts of sentences in the columns
on the strips, and he having made himself acquainted with the meaning of the words
in the first practice he very soon can apply them in forming other sentences which are
produced by independantly moving the strips. By practiceing in this way with
different sets of sentences on different sets of strips and sheets the student soon
acquires a sufficient knowledge of any language for conversation and other purposes.
In practiceing the student reads the words or parts of sentences quickly and aloud,
and of course has to be taught the proper pronounciation of the words, thus ho
becomes familiar with the sound and more readily acquainted with the language.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declaro that what I
claim is:-
The arrangement and combination of the various parts forming the means or
apparatus to be used for learning languages, substantially as herein set forth.
J. W. HARDING,
Agent for the Applicant.