On language Sir, – Language skills are arguably more important today than they have ever been (“The current higher education language war,” Comment & Features, March 5).Rapid globalization has increased the use of English in trade, academia, science, technology and politics. But in Israel, how would limiting the use of – and, therefore, the opportunity to master – English help young adults improve mother-language skills that should have been taught in primary school? There is a demonstrable need for more and better language skills. Surely, the way forward for any country wanting to play its full part in the world is to improve mother-tongue education while also increasing foreign- language study. English is an obvious choice for any country, not least Israel, with its thriving hi-tech sector.There is no room for snobbery in education, but doesn’t every child deserve a chance to learn his or her way into a meritocratic elite?ROBERT SINGER LondonSir, – I generally enjoy the doom-and-gloom Global Agenda columns of Pinchas Landau in the Business & Finance section of your newspaper, and in fact have made minor business decisions based on his assessments. However, on March 2 (“The Japanese conundrum”) he mislead us.He stated that “conundra” is plural for conundrum and then haughtily said that “people unschooled in Latin will prefer conundrums.”The word conundrum in both the Webster-Merriam and the Oxford family of dictionaries has no known origin. Therefore, we cannot necessarily apply Latin rules of grammar.Furthermore, if in doubt about the use of the English language it is always prudent to consult Fowler’s Modern English Usage.Winston Churchill used it when writing to the director of Military Intelligence before the invasion of Normandy, correcting him on the use of “intensive” instead of “intense.”I quote verbatim the entry for conundrum in Fowler’s: A 16c. word of unknown origin (not L. but possibly originating in some now-lost university joke). Pl. conundrums.It seems that schooling in Latin might have had its day.SIMON WEIN PeduelLand for burial Sir, – Finally, tiny Israel is grappling with the fact that one day it will run out of burial space (“National-religious organization and rabbis promote layered burial,” March 2). Even far-larger South Africa is now confronting a lack of space for cemeteries in its major cities.Israel’s priority should be the living, not the dead, and certainly not at the expense of arable and productive land. For starters, it should ban the burial in Israel of Jews who have lived their whole life in the Diaspora.JACOB MENDLOVIC TorontoHoliday rules Sir, – There are not enough “Do nots” around, so I thought I’d suggest a few more.1. To taxi drivers: Do not activate the meter if you take on English-speaking passengers.2. To supermarket check-out ladies: Do not smile unless it is to distract customers from your double billing.3. To pedestrians: Do not stop talking on your cellphone when crossing the road diagonally (in order that your days may not be long).4. To bus drivers: Do not worry about other road users. They will come off worse if they collide with you.5. To doctors’ receptionists: Do not arrange for fewer than 15 patients to come for an appointment at the same time. (Oh yes, don’t forget to ask for a Kupat Holim card before greeting the patient.) 6. To employees of all municipal offices and utilities: Do not answer the phone when it rings lest you encourage the public to think you are there to be of service.7. To senior bank management: Do not cut down on the paperwork with which you bamboozle your customers lest they be freed to concentrate on your excessive charges.8. To newspaper editors: Do not put any good news on the front page lest you put your readers in a good frame of mind for the day.9. To new olim. Do not try to speak Hebrew to the locals lest they think you are tourists.10. To everybody: Most important of all, do not get caught! Have a happy Purim!LIONEL SHEBSONJerusalem
March 8: Imbalance of trade
It should be pointed out that Gaza’s export of rockets to Israeli towns remains steady.
On language Sir, – Language skills are arguably more important today than they have ever been (“The current higher education language war,” Comment & Features, March 5).Rapid globalization has increased the use of English in trade, academia, science, technology and politics. But in Israel, how would limiting the use of – and, therefore, the opportunity to master – English help young adults improve mother-language skills that should have been taught in primary school? There is a demonstrable need for more and better language skills. Surely, the way forward for any country wanting to play its full part in the world is to improve mother-tongue education while also increasing foreign- language study. English is an obvious choice for any country, not least Israel, with its thriving hi-tech sector.There is no room for snobbery in education, but doesn’t every child deserve a chance to learn his or her way into a meritocratic elite?ROBERT SINGER LondonSir, – I generally enjoy the doom-and-gloom Global Agenda columns of Pinchas Landau in the Business & Finance section of your newspaper, and in fact have made minor business decisions based on his assessments. However, on March 2 (“The Japanese conundrum”) he mislead us.He stated that “conundra” is plural for conundrum and then haughtily said that “people unschooled in Latin will prefer conundrums.”The word conundrum in both the Webster-Merriam and the Oxford family of dictionaries has no known origin. Therefore, we cannot necessarily apply Latin rules of grammar.Furthermore, if in doubt about the use of the English language it is always prudent to consult Fowler’s Modern English Usage.Winston Churchill used it when writing to the director of Military Intelligence before the invasion of Normandy, correcting him on the use of “intensive” instead of “intense.”I quote verbatim the entry for conundrum in Fowler’s: A 16c. word of unknown origin (not L. but possibly originating in some now-lost university joke). Pl. conundrums.It seems that schooling in Latin might have had its day.SIMON WEIN PeduelLand for burial Sir, – Finally, tiny Israel is grappling with the fact that one day it will run out of burial space (“National-religious organization and rabbis promote layered burial,” March 2). Even far-larger South Africa is now confronting a lack of space for cemeteries in its major cities.Israel’s priority should be the living, not the dead, and certainly not at the expense of arable and productive land. For starters, it should ban the burial in Israel of Jews who have lived their whole life in the Diaspora.JACOB MENDLOVIC TorontoHoliday rules Sir, – There are not enough “Do nots” around, so I thought I’d suggest a few more.1. To taxi drivers: Do not activate the meter if you take on English-speaking passengers.2. To supermarket check-out ladies: Do not smile unless it is to distract customers from your double billing.3. To pedestrians: Do not stop talking on your cellphone when crossing the road diagonally (in order that your days may not be long).4. To bus drivers: Do not worry about other road users. They will come off worse if they collide with you.5. To doctors’ receptionists: Do not arrange for fewer than 15 patients to come for an appointment at the same time. (Oh yes, don’t forget to ask for a Kupat Holim card before greeting the patient.) 6. To employees of all municipal offices and utilities: Do not answer the phone when it rings lest you encourage the public to think you are there to be of service.7. To senior bank management: Do not cut down on the paperwork with which you bamboozle your customers lest they be freed to concentrate on your excessive charges.8. To newspaper editors: Do not put any good news on the front page lest you put your readers in a good frame of mind for the day.9. To new olim. Do not try to speak Hebrew to the locals lest they think you are tourists.10. To everybody: Most important of all, do not get caught! Have a happy Purim!LIONEL SHEBSONJerusalem