p. 6 | Acquiring Foreign Languages by W. A. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 16, 1909

Acquiring Foreign Languages

By W. A. S.

WE in the home lands are interested also in the resolution passed at the General Conference, as follows:—

Whereas, The Bible teaches, and missionary experience everywhere demonstrates, that the gospel most quickly and effectively reaches the various nationalities of earth if carried to them in their own tongues; therefore,—

Resolved, That we encourage our workers to make every possible effort to acquire the language of the people among whom they are called to labor.

It is a cheering message that comes to us from abroad when we hear that this one and that one sent out are preaching the message in a new tongue. And our missionaries are learning these languages. It must have brought gladness to many supporters of missions to hear, a little time ago, that at one station, German East Africa, our workers have put the four Gospels into a tongue that never before bore the good news, and the translations are to be printed on our own press in Hamburg.

Our missionaries will agree that the following homely proverb from a Scottish paper is good counsel for those struggling to acquire a foreign language:—

Better blunder than do nothing, if only you know you are blundering, and are really trying to do well, and are properly ashamed of yourself for not doing better.

The worker least afraid of making mistakes and most persistent in actually using the little he has gained, will make the most rapid progress. With this must go the painstaking study to acquire accuracy.

The workers among strange tongues may know that at home we are praying God to help them to master the languages so that the precious truth may be clearly told. W. A. S.