BABEL OF TONGUES.

Shannon News, 23 May 1924, Page 1

BABEL OF TONGUES.

COiSDITJLOiSS 1> PRAGUE.

..Unless onu is an accomplished linguist or a deaf mute, lie will find life in 'the.'now republic of Czeeho-Slova-kia a bewildering- problem because of the large variety of' languages used. Though the official language is Czech, it is understood by only a small part of the population, and as each section persists in using its own dialect, business, the schools, and even Parliament are badly hampered. There are large minorities who speak German,. Slovak, Hungarian, and Kuthenian. In areas where more than 20 per cent, of the population is non-Czech the. people have the right to use their own language. But in districts where the percentage is smaller these people have shown ;vo disposition to give up their own language, and as a result, they are constantly in conflict with the Czechs. In Prague all signs, directions, and announcements, as well as all notices in railway stations are printed in Czech, which is understood by about one foreigner in 10,000. As there are about 30,000 Germans in Prague, who form about 5 per cent, of the population, they have a difficult time of it. German banks are forced to adopt Czech names, and even Court proceedings are conducted in that language, though the principals in the case may be Germans. Even in Parliament deputies are handicaped because they are always answered in Czech, although the Czechs understand German perfectly, while the Germans are quite ignorant of Czech. The Slovaks are no more pleased over this arrangement than are. the Germans, for they, too, have their own language, mid they resent having their schools conducted in Czech. Moreover, they consider it a slight that the national theatre at Pressburg is compelled to present all except about five pieces a season , in Czech. ' ;■

The, Kuthenians, who occupy the. extreme eastern end of- the republic in the Carpathians, likewise are deeply disturbed over the new language arrangement. As they were 90 per cent, illiterate when they joined the republic in 191 S. they speak a variety of dialects, which, on the whole, resemble that of the UkraWe. Schools have been opened, .but the question of what language to speak in them h, l s „ a /pused a violent . coirtrovarsv. Though (heir natural desire is to have their own dialect developed, the lea'ders realise that this would onlv serve to cut them off from the rest'of the republic.

As they had no associations with the Czech tongue, the Government had to choose between Ukranian, called Little Russi-'n, and Great Russian, and finally decided on Great Russian as (he language to be used by the Kuthenians.