Standard German Research Articles

Concerning the Objectives and Methodology of the Second Year

WE ARE now sufficiently removed in time to appreciate the significance of the year 1924 for the history of modern foreign language teaching in America. Whether we like it or not the Modern Language Study, which was inaugurated in 1924 under a grant from the Carnegie Foundation, has created an entirely different perspective for our work and has modified and is still modifying the work especially of the first college year. The impact of 1924 on our profession is comparable only to the similar impact, a half century ago, of the so-called direct method from a Europe which was profoundly impressed and thrilled at the potentialities of the new psychology and phonetics. It is when we peruse the legion of articles on objectives and methodology which have appeared and are still appearing in the professional journals, and still more when we ponder the new type of elementary textbook which the market offers in ever increasing numbers, that we realize how profoundly the Modern Language Study has affected our work. Most of the textbooks appearing currently have, for example, been constructed in consonance with the vocabulary and idiom frequency counts. This development has proceeded so far that the A.A.T.G. appears to be encouraging the idea that all elementary readers might safely presuppose the two thousand odd basic words and related idioms of the Minimum Standard German Vocabulary, and thus avoid the wasteful expenditure of reprinting them in each individual reader. The vogue of the streamlined grammars which have reduced the bugbear Grammar to its minimum essentials is too marked to need further mention, as is the incessant demand for more so-called 'cultural content' in the reading material. All of this activity in the foreign language field appears to be quite consistent with the general trend in curriculum revision throughout the American college and university. As we well know, there has for some time been a marked trend toward the greater

Cognates and the Minimum Standard German Vocabulary

Author's Summary— Listing of the less obvious cousins of the “first thousand” words to encourage stress on cognates in courses for beginners.

Cognates and the Minimum Standard German Vocabulary

Cognates and the Minimum Standard German Vocabulary

Endokrine Krankheiten.

This book is an abbreviation of the standard German texts on endocrinology and is especially rich in photographs of patients. The accounts are brief and accurate, but it is regrettable that in a book primarily for practitioners there should be inadequate discussion of certain elementary principles of therapy. The indications for surgical procedure and the proper preoperative use of iodine in cases of exophthalmic goiter are hardly touched on; the importance of sodium in adrenal insufficiency is not mentioned at all, and there is no adequate discussion of the essential chemical changes in hyperparathyroidism.

Minimum Standard German Vocabulary

Minimum Standard German Vocabulary

A Standard German Vocabulary of 2,000 Words and Idioms

A Standard German Vocabulary of 2,000 Words and Idioms

The Reparation Act and Scientific Research

PROF. GARDINER (NATURE, May 19, p. 359) is one of many British men of science who are helping to pay the German war indemnity. One does not obtain goods from Germany unless one is compelled; it is difficult to see how standard German books and new publications can be procured from home industries, and they are necessary to research. In other cases the goods might be expected to be made by British firms. For many months I have been trying to obtain Wollaston wire of a certain diameter from a well-known British firm. At first I was informed that it could not possibly be made. I had bought it before in Germany, so they tried to make it. Several samples were unsatisfactory, and finally I was told that the British firm did not wish to make any further attempts. I then ordered some of the German wire, which I was required to pay for in advance, for the reason stated by Prof. Gardiner. This was reasonable, as the price charged by the German firm, plus indemnity which I pay, is less than I have been paying for unsatisfactory wire in England. The wire was on the way for several weeks. Meanwhile work was delayed. The Customs officials know nothing of the reduction of the tax from 100 per cent, to 26 per cent., announced by Mr. Chamberlain. Another order for new books, given in February, was dispatched from Bonn on March 4, and arrived in London on April 12 and April 16. Notice from the Customs was received a month later. After two days spent at the Customs filling up forms, and five letters requesting delivery, I still await the latter.

A German Science Reader, with Notes and Vocabulary

THE greater part (180 pages) of this book consists of selections from standard German works on the chief departments of science. The extracts describe some fundamental facts and principles of chemistry,physics, geology, mineralogy, astronomy, and anatomy; and they have been selected from the point of view of interest as well as that of instruction. Helpful notes are given on each division of the book, and also lists of words commonly mispronounced and of words and phrases with special or idiomatic meanings. A vocabulary at the end of the book gives the English rendering of words used in the German text. Any student of science having a slight acquaintance with German grammar will find in the book all the assistance required to enable him to read the extracts with interest and profit. As an introduction to German scientific literature, the volume will be found of real service both by teachers and students.

Marine Engineering

THIS is designed to be a manual and book of reference on marine engineering, for the use of engineers, naval officers, students, and others interested in steamships. The author is a marine engineer in the Imperial German service, and a professor at the Naval Academy of Kiel. He has laid down a most comprehensive scheme for the work, and the first and second divisions already published contain good evidence that the book when completed will become the standard German work on the subject.