1930-01-08 — Page 10

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THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH,

DIFFICULTIES OF

",

ENGLISH.

AN INTERESTING DISCOURSE BY PROFESSOR. SIMPSON.

SOME PITFALLS.

The English Association met last evening at 5.90 in the Cathe dral Hall. His Excellency the Governor presided, and after the minutes of the last meeting had been read and confirmed; called upon Professor Simpson to deliver his lecture on "The Difficulty of English."

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY

Broadcasting. Corporation had to appoint a committee to decide on the pronunciation of 322-parti- cularly disputed words. Even then, competent critica found fault with 99 of their decisions.

For foreigners, who cannot learn by ear in childhood, this is a tremendous obstacle, and the difficulty is increased by modern, pronunciation; if to-day we make

difference in sound, between "alms" and "arme" we shock, everybody except those folks in the North who cling to the idea "thut the most elegant speakers devinte least from the written word." A foreigner may be able to analyse or to write a correct sentence, yet his speech may betray his real ignoranca of the language.

Professor Simpson began his Professor Simpson proceeded to address by remarking that to analyse and discuss the two sug- millions of people, English pre- gosted reforms. Simplified Spol- sents no difficulty; the speech is ling advocated by Bridges and the instinctive and easy, while most International Phonetic Alphabet, of their writing is in set phrases pointing out that the latter (un- on conventional subjects. Many, like the Jimited Latin alphabet) however, are forced by their oc gives all the authentic sounds for cupation to worry over the dim. all European and many Oriental culty of English, not only gro-languages-but. only in Turkey. fessional authors, but those who can the government make adults must write letters of reports which learn a now Alphabet. call for greater skill and are re- warded by a higher payment than. that of the novelial They must not only know their subject, but must be able to write about it.

Grammar Books,

It is a matter for regret that grammar books, begin with "parta of speech Instead of sounds of speech. A slight change in pro- nunciation or in spelling may make the difference between a noun and a verb, or, worse still, there may be a change in spelling which does not coincide with the change in pronunciation ("pro" |

To teach phecy," "prophesy")." this is almost as bad as teaching Chinese pronunciation, with no help from the component parts of the printed word.

Such people keep on their desk dictionaries, the Clarendon Press rules for compositors, and prin- ters, and are as eager for a new book by Fowler as for one by Shaw. Teachers also find that using a language and teaching it are very different. The inclusion of English in the curriculum of school and university is compara- tively recent, and the methods of teaching are less ixed than th the ease of alder-established sub. lice in dictation and in tongue- jects. Many feel the impossibility wisters with, for the Chinese, of teaching it on classical lines, emphasis on "v." "th," and the aru essential for the and again, methods used in Englax ""). lans are not suitable for foreign foreign student. students.

most elementary To tench it to the After the foreigner is a gigantic task for stage, these. should also be prac correct English is u habit ac- Used in the movements of lips and quired by long and regular prat-mouth, and in spelling, as well as tice under.trained supervision. in mennings of words.

A further difficulty to foreignera

The difficulties can, however,

Regular prae-

the

he faced if they are met systema la the all-important stress in Eng- tically.

tish. To hope this may be "pick In the eighteenth century Dr.ed up" by students in the sur Johnson gave eight years of his render of teaching; but life to make English easier, and stresses may be largely learned to fix the language by means of by the stresses of English poetry a grammar and a dictionary; ne and the study of this is therefor only succeeded in fixing the spell-n practical undertaking; it teaches ing, and for that he has received shades of meaning, and quantity, more blame than praise. in sin addition to the stress of words preface, Johnson states that Eng- and of sentences, Hah speech in "coplous without order, and energetic withour rules." It is in much the same state to-day.

in

The next difficulty Is that which arises from the interplay of The grammar, logic, and idiom." rules of English syntax are fow, its accidence scanty; so much so Difficulties Classified. that some say there is no English grammar, and it is possible to The difficulties of English may write correctly by knowing the be conveniently classified under words, and putting them into a various head. The first is the natural order.

The lecturer ex-, separation between spelling, and plained, with amusing illustra pronunciation. Tu formgnets Lions, that this very absouce of There is a great diffleulig in learn- grammatical inflexion and rule ing to spell correctly; this means tends to make composition more that there is also difficulty in difheulb; a foreigner may know his learning correct pronunciation, grammar but make serious mis- English is called phonetic fakes

♫

Agnin composition language; that is, the written | idiom" allows constructiona” for- symbols represent spunds, in con hidden by grammar, and grammar trust, for example, to Chinesc, allows expressions which are not. which is ideographic. Once Eng-idiomatie. The transferring ef |lish spelling did indicate the pro- current Idiom to books from SCANDINAVIA nunciation, but while the pronun- speech, makes a living language.

ciation has changed (very ir- regularly), the spelling remains atationary. Some words are still phonetie, but not SO thest majority; for example in the

Further Pitfalls. monosyllable "one," only one

with letter (n) corresponds to the Other difficulties dealt pronunciation, and that is in the were "pidgin" English, the wrong place. There is so much temptation of word-building"}

the inspired room for error in a language. so. (macrobiotic was loosely phonetic that the British coinage of a young Chinese!),

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To substitute logle for grammar sounds well but is impracticable an Professor Simpson shewed by fur- ther amusing examples.

8

and the allusions in English which demand a backround of biblical, classical, historical and sociological culture.

In conclusion, the lecturer said that for the British people English is a precicus birthright; for others a difficult acquisition, of value beenuse the world's busi- nova is transacted in it, the best part of the world's govern- ment is carried on by it, and all the world's knowledge la contain- ed in it.

His Excellency the Governor declared the subject open - to discussion. His Honour Sir Henry Gollan, after some witty remarks on the theme of the lecture, re- minded the audience that it was the last occasion on which Hia Excellency would preside, and after thanking him, in the ratno of the Association, for the in- terest, the hard work, and the time he had so generously given, expressed regret at his imminent departure, while assuring him of the Association's'. ́wishes for success and happiness in his now

career

His Excellency congratulated Professor Simpson on the CI- cellence of his lecture, and briefly discussed some points in connexion with it. Mr. Birch also took part in the open discus- sion.

It was then announced that the next meeting will be held at, the Cathedral Hall on Tuesday, 4th. February, at 5.30 pm., when Major Doyle, R.E., will speak on "English in the Army," and that as Father is going to Europe, Byrne, S.J. and will be unable to lecture In April, Fr. McDonald, S.J., Warden of Ricci Hall, will lecture" on "Literary Linka between East and West.""

The mucting then adjourned.

T ASAHI

BEER

/ MSENER BEE

Solo Agent MITSUI BUSSAN KAISHA LTD.

GRAND PLIZER, HONGKONG

AHI

BEER

APANK BE

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