Page 6 University Daily Kansan Monday. Feb. 2, 1959
Newspeak?
KU Educators See Difficulty In Language Simplification
By Robert Harwi
A recent proposal by Congressman Harlan Hagen to simplify the English language is viewed with hope but also with a certain amount of skepticism by three members of the English department.
Rep. Hagen (D-Calif) introduced a bill to create a national grammar commission which would look into ways to streamline our words. He offered a similar measure in the last Congress, but it died in committee.
He said, however, that public response to the idea was "so great" that he is confident it stands a better chance now.
The Hagen bill contains a plan devised by Homer W. Wood, publisher of the Porterville, Calif., Recorder, Wood, who has campaigned for years for simplified spellings, feels that if the Federal government adopted abbreviated word forms such as eliminating silent letters, the rest of the nation would follow.
W. P. Albrecht, professor of English and chairman of the department of English, said it is difficult to bring about such changes, even when they are sensible.
Changes Are Difficult
"It is a slow process." Prof. Albrecht said. "But a consistent system would be helpful to the learning of the language. However, the silent letter in "lite" is not good phonetic practice."
The national grammar commission proposed in the Hagen bill would make recommendations for revising official word usage in the various government agencies.
A glossary which contains such spellings as "thru" for through, "fole" for follow and "lite" for light has been compiled. The California publisher pointed out that there are several "unjustifiable inconsistencies" in English spellings such as giving "gh" and "f" sound in the word cough.
Prof. Albrecht said that even though such changes might seem to lessen the dignity of the language, we would eventually get used to the new language and its new dignity.
Symbols Overlap
"The ideal language is one in which each sound or phoneme has an unambiguous symbol," Prof. Albrecht said. "Some symbols in our language overlap and cause difficulties."
Prof. Albrecht said chances are overwhelmingly against the proposal's ever being accepted. But when the language offers a choice between
two forms, the cause of simplified spelling can be helped by using the simpler form.
David Dykstra, instructor of English, said he was not opposed to the plan, but that he did not think it would ever be adopted.
"It is a gimmick," Mr. Dykstra said. "The language is organic It is alive. It grows and changes. Attempts to change it by legislation are foolish and betray a lack of understanding of what the language is."
Mr. Dvkstra said Theodore Roosevelt made similar proposals. Roosevelt ordered government publications to spell certain words in particular ways. His opponents argued that he had no authority to legislate the English language.
Bill Is Interesting
"The Hagen bill is an interesting plan," Mr. Dykstra said. "But, if nothing else, previous attempts show that the public is not disposed to accept such legislation. English spelling is illogical. But do we want a language based solely on logical principles?"
Mr. Dykstra said changes in English will come about of themselves without legislation.
Franklyn C. Nelick, associate professor of English, suggested the move
Sigma Xi Talk Thursday
The author of a textbook on virology, S. E. Luria, professor of bacteriology at the University of Illinois, will speak at the Sigma Xi meeting at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Bailey Auditorium.
His topic will be "Genetic Mechanisms of Infective Heredity in Bacteria."
Prof. Luria's research has been in the fields of bacterial viruses and bacterial genetics with emphasis on studying the effect of viruses grown in tissue culture on animals and man.
Johnson to Give Recitals
Roy Johnson, assistant professor of piano, will present a pair of recitals at Wilmington College in Ohio Thursday and Friday and two recitals also at Hope College in Michigan Feb. 12 and 13.
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is an apology for not teaching Americans to spell.
"The plan is feasible," Prof. Nelick said. "I don't think it is the brain child of a crank. But it is incredibly difficult. I think it would require years for adoption."
Prof. Nellick said that revision is long overdue, but that it must be done on sound phonetic principles. He said he thought it would be possible to adopt a phonetic spelling which would be closer to a living language. The Hagen plan is not an attempt to legislate linguistic change, but is meant to encourage investigation of written reproduction, he said.
75 Expected for 10th Clerks' School
About 75 persons are expected to attend the 10th annual County Clerks' School tomorrow and Wednesday in the Kansas Union.
Ethan P. Allen, director of the Governmental Research Center, will open the school with a discussion of county clerk relations with the public and other county officials.
Francis Heller, associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, will lead a session on constitutional revision.
Other subjects to be discussed will be retirement programs, assessment problems, budgets, purchasing auditing procedures and school annexation and bond problems.
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