STILL TABU

Evening Star, Issue 20029, 21 November 1928, Page 9

STILL TABU

GERM LANGUAGE IN FRANCE Young French men and women continue to outlaw German in their study of foreign languages, asserts the New York ‘ Herald ’ (European edition, Paris). Their French elders are showing not a little consternation over the fact. Thus the ‘ Herald ’: —

“ Until the Avar, English and German were the most popular of the foreign tongues studied by the youth of Franco i.i colleges and business schools. Since the Avar, Spanish _ has ursnrped the favour formerly enjoyed by German, it is said.

“Figures released by the Stages Commerciaux et Industrials, and by the Association Francaise pour I’Etude des Langues, give what to some is discouraging proof of the ‘ decline ’ of the German language. * “ Since both of these schools exist primarily to equip young Fi'enchraen for commercial and industrial service, some writers find in the failure of German the reason for the belief that the young people of to-day underestimate Germany’s economic position in the world. As a possible second reason for the substitution of Spanish for German, some call attention to the fact that trade between France and Central and South America is greater than ever before. “Others, more,pessimistic, according to the Paris ‘ Midi,’ attribute the present foreign language condition to a national prejudice against Germany, which has not entirely been destroyed ” The youth of the land are supported by Mr Lautior, the well-known journalist and Deputy for Frencli Guiana, who is thus reported by the ‘ Daily Mail ’ (Paris • Continental edition); “ Certain writers have urged that German should be more taught, and should head the list. Yesterday M. Lautier challenged this view, and declared that English should be the first language learned by the average Frenchman, and Spanish the second. He points out that the study of German is only really necessary for diplomats and journalists. English, however, is the key for commercial intercourse all the world over, and opens up the whole of North America. For purely literary pursuits, he adds that English is better than German, owing to its great wealth of literary_ masterpieces, and the close connection that nas always existed between French and British literature. Spanish, which is bo useful in the growing nations of South America, he places second as a useful tongue for the schoolboy to master.”