Modern Languages

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 278, 19 August 1932, Page 13

Modern Languages

Sir, —His Excellency the GovernorGeneral made some very valuable and welcome remarks when recently addressing students of the Christchurch Technical College. He pointed out that the study of the Spanish language should be given more attention, and he hoped that educationists in New Zealand would give more consideration to it than they had done in the past His Excellency said that there were going to be great openings for English-speaking people in South America, where there was an unshaken belief in the integrity of the British race, but they must be prepared to learn Spanish, as they would have a better opportunity of remuneration in one or other of the South American countries. The very keen competition which exists all over the world to-day makes the study of languages absolutely necessary, if we hope to maintain a prominent commercial position in foreign countries. We hear a great deal just now about finding new markets, and some of the members of our chambers .of commerce have stressed this subject ad nauseum, forgetting in their loquacity that a knowledge of Eastern and Western languages is required, as it helps to secure the business that we are looking for, otherwise the experiment without some of this knowledge may cause trouble, complications, heavy expenditure, and very doubtful results. One of the most effective means to successful trading in foreign parts is understanding what the buyer wants, and says, in his own language. This is generally possible with the foreign commercial traveller, and hscores every time. The writer has on several occasions mentioned in "The Dominion” how very necessary a knowledge of French is in commercial circles, and he agrees in tote with what his Excellency recommended in Christchurch in connection with the Spanish language. But there is a serious obstacle here to learners of a foreign tongue because, as a rule, professors and pedagogues have a very faulty knowledge regarding the proper pronunciation of the language which they are expected to teach, and this is a preponderating handicap to pupils. The Press, which is considered a valuable educational medium, is not blameless either for French words, which are in use almost daily, are incorrect by not having the necessary accents (grave or aigu), and what appears in print is therefore wrong, and is certainly no guide to the correct pronunciation of those particular words. It is apparent that sports have become a fetish in New Zealand, and, although we ourselves may not notice this, visitors comment on the waste of valuable tlmiover football and cricket. Sports are all very well in moderation, but when nothing else is talked about, and business is practically at a standstill when there is a football match on, it proves that a--a young nation we are not devoting sufficient time and attention to work, no> to the consideration of serious world-wide problems which may in time affect onr commercial and financial well-being, unless they are faced deliberately and with out interference or interruption. It may interest your readers to know that his Excellency the Governor of South Australia, Sir Alexander HoreRuthven, V.C., at the annual dinner of St. Peter’s Old Collegians’ Association, said that the Englishman’s ignorance of foreign languages was a byword. Un less they remembered it there was a danger of a national and commercial disaster. "AU the time boys are at school.’' said the Governor, "they are engaged in the study of mankind. A lot of trouble in the world is caused because we do not study one another’s temperaments. The world is becoming smaller, time and space are being overcome, and we must get. closer together mentally. The study of modern languages is becoming more and more important” Their Excellencies both gave good advice to the young men of to-day—that is. to devote more time to modern languages, and the understanding of humanity.—l am, etc.. SCOTTY No. 1. Wellington, August 15.