Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from An Universal Alphabet: A Paper Read Before the Modern Language Association of America, December 29, 1904
In the spring of 1904, Mr. Robert Stein, of the United States Geological Savey, submitted to Professor Rambeau, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a plan for bringing about a conference of eminent phoneticians from different countries, for the purpose of adopting a universal alphabet for recording pronunciation: This alphabet to represent the elementary sounds in the world languages, and to consist of the ordinary Roman letters, and modifications of them, with, however, as little change as possible. Its chief purpose would be to serve as a key to pronunciation. The plan was endorsed by more than one hundred scholars; among them M. Paul Passy, Whose letter explaining the possible far - reaching results of such a conference was printed on the back of the list of endorsers. Mr. Stein prepared besides a circular explaining his idea, and another containing suggestive questions in regard to the plan and its possibilities. Professor Rambeau presented the subject to the authorities at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, at Harvard, at Boston University, and to the faculties and members of other educational institutions. The movement received the heartiest endorsement of the entire faculty of the College of Liberal Arts at Boston University. Thereupo'n Professor Rambeau advised Mr. Stein to continue the propaganda through the latter institution. At just this time Professor Rambeau accepted a call to an institution in the West. Mr. Stein, therefore, at the suggestion of Professor Rambeau, decided to follow the latter's advice, and to direct the movement from Boston University.
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