OCR Text |
Show THE RULE OF LANGUAGE. The F. S. Bureau of Education sends oat notes on the educational progress of the world, the following boin found in the most recent collection received: following the Italian Invasion of Tripoli, Tri-poli, u is announced thnt the Arabic language ts to be taught in the technical techni-cal chools of Genoa. Leghorn. NapleSi Palermo, mid Caltanlssctta. This probably means that the tal-ians tal-ians intend to Continue the use of the Arabic language within their jurisdiction jurisdic-tion in Tripoli, which is a surprise. One would suppose that the example of the French in Algiers in this respect would be conclusive against any such officiai recognition of Arabic. The French, on their conquest of Algiers, Al-giers, continued the use of the Arabic language, which they, found to be the Peach of the people. The result was thai the people did not consider them-I them-I rouqucred by the French, but that the French were simply- in 'oceu peney and that the old order would prevail. S0 mooh trouble has this Uen in the way of translations, ex pensive labor, but above all in retaining the spirit of opposition among the Arnbic-speakinng people against the French dominance, thnt a now order hns prevailed within a year or two past, and the French are abolishing the use of the Arabic in all of their official dealings with the Algerians, substituting French. The Arabic, so far as Algiers is concerned under the French occupation and domination. Will henceforth be a dead language; everything will be French, from the rule to the language. It would seem as though this ought to be a lesson to the Italians, and as though they would profit by it. T'n doUDtedly, if they continue the use Of Arabic, they will find themselves in precisely the same position in Tripoli Trip-oli that the French found themselves in Algiers, that is. the natives will be Oocksure of their own superiority, and the supremacy of their language will confirm them in this opinion. If it sveie merely that a sufficient number of Italians, in order to communicate with the Arabs, should learn the rabic. language, that would be one thing; but to allow the Arnbic to be the official language of Tripoli un der Italian domination, would be to the natives a sign that they were not subjugated, and the cost of occupation would bp immensely increased. The onlv wav to conquer in Tripoli is to make a clean job of it, not only chang Ing the rule of the country to Italian hands, but the language of the couu try to the Italian tongue. |