Wisconsin School for the Deaf - Tattler Yearbook (Delavan, WI)

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THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE By ALICE HENDRICKSON FOR more than three hundred years nil of us Americans have been using a language which was adopted by our forefathers. Language is a very valuable gift and without it people probably never would have been able to communicate with one another. Let us think of the growth of speech, which is oral language, from its’ beginning. Speech comes to every person unexpectedly like breathing, but it has to be perfected. The origin of language is an unsolved problem. Some people think God gave it to the very first people or that it was a gift applied by the Deity immediately after CJod created the first man, Adam. More likely, language came to man first by signs or exclamations. It is hard to say which came first. Of course, all language is really expression of thought made by signs, such as the spoken word made with voice, or written signs made with the pen. or signs made with the body. Signs were made by many savage tribes by gestures and without speaking. England was taken by the Angles who came from Northern Germany about the fifth century, and they called it Angleland which later came to be known as England. They called themselves and their language English. England was invaded by other Teuton tribes. Recause of all the different tribes that came into England, in this way the language changed. The language of the upper classes had words such as ••prince , royalty , throne and others which originated from the Norman-French while the most commonly spoken words came from the early English, loiter England became the home of many Greek and Latin scholars, who brought with them the learning and culture of Greece and Rome. Many other tongues soon increased the words in the English language. This English language of ours is continously growing and changing as the years go by. One certain idea may be expressed in several different ways by different people or races. The deaf, for instance, when they use their special language are like this. They use only the necessary signs to make a clear picture, omitting the articles ‘‘the , a , and an , and words similar to these. The same was true when language first came into use. Most words are signs of certain ideas but have been changed more or less as time passed. The English which we speak and write today is not the same as our English ancestors used. The changes take place so slowly that we hardly recognize them. They often effect (1) the vocabulary (2) meaning of words (.1) pronunciation and spelling (4) and the way in which they are used in expressing a thought. Many words that have been used in our English language have gone out of use entirely and are said to be obsolete. They are words such as thilk meaning the same; “tour , buyer; ‘•couth , known; holt , wood; and others. Words such as sooth , truth; wot”, know; eke , also; and ruth”, pity are used in ancient or archaic English. New words spring up just as fast as the old ones go out of use. These new words may either be a way of expressing things just for variety or in naming new things and ideas. Sometimes new words which were in use many eani ago are brought back by newcomers. The process of the rising and disappearing of these words can be readily noticed. Some of these words are sometimes called slang and cultured people dislike using them in their daily speech, but if they are used often enough they become a part of our accepted vocabulary. Boss , chum , mob , snob , and others are examples of this. Slang phrases can also often be found. People often use slang just to be humorous while others, in different kinds of work, often use slang that fits their types of work. Take lumbering for instance. For the expression start in or begin they may say break ground while the soldiers may say gather your pots and kettles . This proves that there is actually little difference between slang and legitimate speech. Another method of word formation is called shortening”. Examples of this are van” from caravan, hobby from hobby horse, “wig from periwig, cab” from cabriolet, cheat from escheat. Still another method is called back formation. For example shoy (chaise), chinee (Chinese). skate (earlier skates), cave (earlier eaves), and others. There are also compound words formed by thinking of two different things and putting

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Whatever was known concerning Japanese history down to the time of Commodore Perry came chiefly from the Dutch, so the world owes them a debt of gratitude for what they accomplished. For nearly two hundred years Japan was practically a hermit nation, allowing no foreigners in. and forbidding any natives to leave the island. In 1848 the United States began to show a special interest in the opening of negotiations with Japan. There were several reasons for this: American citizens had a great deal of money invested in whale fisheries near Japan, trade hail been opened up between America and China, and chief of the reasons was the discovery of gold in California, making that state a centre of trade with the Far East. To travel from San Francisco to Hong Kong, the ships were obliged to be overloaded with coal. The only remedy would be to establish a coaling station on one of the Japanese Islands. It was Anally decided by the United States government that an expedition under Commodore Matthew C. Perry be sent to negotiate with Japan for such a station. For nearly a whole year Perry spent his time making preparations for the great task he had been chosen to perform. It was not diflicult to got men to join his expedition. As soon as the news of his plans had leaked out. ho was flooded with applications, not only from America but from England. However, he took only those who he was reasonably sure would make no trouble for him and would obey his commands. At last everything was in readiness: and on November 21. 1852, four large vessels slowly sailed out of Norfolk harbor enroute for Japan. In spite of the warning that the Japanese government had by the Dutch of the preparation and coming of this expedition, its bold entrance Into Yedo Hay was a great surprise. As the huge ships plowed through the peaceful waters, the bay was lined with troops and frightened people, who ran to their homes and hid. Perry did not hesitate. The boats were were anchored and the crews landed. Commodore Perry had with him a letter from the President of the United States to the Emperor, explaining the object of the expedi- tion. “It whs. the letter said, to establish a friendship between the two countries, to arrange for privileges of trade, for the care of ship wrecked sailors, and for the appointment of a convenient port where coal and other supplies might be obtained by vessels of the United States. In dealing with the Japanese officials Perry, by his force and assurance of his friendly purpose. made a deep impression. As soon as the letter was delivered, they left the island saying they would return for the answer in the near future. The government of Japan was greatly troubled. It was not in favor of negotiations but was afraid to refuse. It had lived in seclusion so long that it had no knowledge of other nations ways. In spite of Perry’s friendliness. the Japanese didn’t trust one with such great ships and powerful armament. The people were reminded by the Shogun of Japan of what happened in China after the foreigners opened up trade with that country. He said. The policy of a foreign nation is first to trade with her. then to introduce its religion, and then to stir up strife. No. Japan will not submit. We will fight before we will do that!” After Perry left, the government made preparations for defense, as it had only small ships and no armament except rusty swords. Monastery bells and many metal articles of luxury were melted into cannons. On Perry's return with a fleet of seven ships, ho presented the Japanese with various kinds of gifts, made in our factories. After much discussion an agreement was made at a meeting in Knuagawa near Yokohoma. which was then merely a village. This took place March 31. 185-1 It was immediately sent to Washington for ratification. Within a short time there was a rush of other nations into Japan to muko similar terms with the country. Perry’s expedition was the wedge that opened up this once shut-in nation to the world and its advanced ways. It was not very long before this agricultural country had been transformed into a modern industrial nation. Japan developed and became modernized at such great speed that there is little wonder she has reached out for more land to give room for her people and supply natural resources for her manufactories.

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these words together, such as hair-pin. paperclip. fountain-pen, hookworm, freshman and many others. So we see that our language is constantly changing and adding new words all the time. Some of the latest words added are jitter-hug. air-liner, television, magic-eye. radio-ear. stratosphere. and zipper. Then there is the present style of using letters for words such as W. P. A.. A. A. A.. T. V. A. If people wish to keep up with these chunges they must live with language and keep awake to the contacts they make with language in newspapers, hooks, conversation, on the radio and in movies every day. THE ART OF WEAVING By DORIS GRAV “Tho IiikIuvo aim of Art in to makr •©me uneful thing beautiful. —Keryon Kox WEAVING, it is believed, is the oldest occupation that man has. Adam, when he left the Garden of Eden, wore a coat of skin hut soon afterwards his descendants wore nn upper garment known to them as a simln”. This was, without duuht. woven coarsely and loosely from the fibers of certain roots and plants. The first piece of weaving was not done sheerly for beauty hut for use. As centuries passed, people began to enjoy beautiful things more and more. They even carried this love into their daily tasks, one of which was weaving. Some one conceived the idea of extracting the juices of certain roots to make dyes with which they could beautify the wool before it was woven Into material. It probably faded at first, but thut, after many experiments, was checked to a certain extent. The Indians in our own country had beautiful. simply woven blankets of many colors. Even today Americans search eagerly for the beautiful Navajo blankets of the Indian. We are all familiar with the wampum of our Indian friends which was so valuable that it was used for money. Wampum, to them, was what silver. gold and paper money are to the white man today. Slowly but surely, weaving progressed until at the present day we find that weaving is no longer a neccessity or duty to be performed by the women of a household, but an occupation to be smoothly, neatly and quickly done by the larger automatic looms of factories. Despite the quickness and neatness of these looms, the work of the smaller lloor or hand looms is preferred by most people because it actually seems to be dearer to one doing the work. The rea- son for this is that the beauty, design, patience and love of the weaver seems to be woven into the pattern. In addition, such a loom gives special happiness to many unfortunates, such a the crippled, sick, convalescent, handicapped. and so forth. Some people make a living solely Irom weaving. Such must have great patience and perseverance, as without these a weaver would accomplish little. One can imagine the satisfaction in a piece of work well done. As Anson G. Chester has expressed it in his poem. “The Tapestry Weavers, Oh the •ight of it drllcatc beauty. How it pay him for all it cost, No rarer, daintier work than his Wm over done by the froi»t What awes me the most is how a blind person weaves in beautiful colors, not making a single noticeable mistake. It requires all of my sight to string-up a loom. Even then I make mistake x:fter mistake. Yet strange as it may seem. I truly believe that they do better work than most people who can see. They probably are more conscientious about their work as they know that those who can see will judge them by their work. The interlacing of threads into cloth isn't the only form of weaving. Man has found that woven reeds make excellent baskets This form of weaving is probably us old as that of clothmaking. possibly older. As the years come and go. white men are trying to get the Indians interested in their forefather's occupation. In due time, they may become outstanding leaders in the weaving world, but that will not prevent other people from being vitally interested in the century old occupation. weaving.