[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIE,—Not only has your
correspondent, " J," happily deluded himself that Commercial English is a passing phase, but he must have lived far from the network of modern business life if he is optimistic enough to think that it will die a natural death as education advances. To the ordinary well-educated man as well as to the purist of language each day brings moments of disgust. I go to the golf club with Mr. Smart and he is told that Mr. Smith 'phoned him—" re what," says Smart.. " I cannot tell you, Sir, but he left his number, one O 0 three." " Right oh: I'll ring him in a moment." This _is a con- versation you may hear at any time and in any place, but it emphasises the fact that Commercial English, unless men- who have been liberally educated have the courage of their convictions and let their voice be heard, has come to stay.
The disease is insidious, for in this new age business holds out her arms to receive the cadets of our best families, and a goodly proportion of the sons and daughters of pro- fessional men—men who have been educated at one of our great Public Schools and at the UniversitY—enter her embrace. The disease, therefore, spreads broadcast through every class. of society. We live at a time when slang is used recklessly and at a time when besides American English and the Commercial English which " J " so much deprecates we get journalistic English —when words of many foreign languages are imported, very often purely for effect, of which not one person in a hundred understands a tithe. Our literature is perhaps greater than it has ever been, but the spoken word is undoubtedly being gradually corrupted. We have a great inheritance in our mother tongue, and it is the duty of all thoughtful men to keep it free from taint from within as well as from without.
am, Sir, &c., W. ACWORTH. Whitfield Court, Knaphill, Surrey.
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