# Rudolf Carnap an W.V.O. Quine, 8. April 1934 April 1934

Dear Mr. Quine‚

many thanks for your letter of March 12th. I return you the copy of the German part of your letter; you write such a good German that I had only to change some expressions. I am very obliged to you for the trouble you took in order to advance my America-aims. We were very pleased to see that InaP Carnap, Ina (eig. Elisabeth Maria immacul[ata] Ignatia), 1904–1964, geb. Stöger, heiratete 1933 Rudolf Carnap was right: she said to me from the first moment of her acquaintance with NaomiP Quine, Naomi, 1907–1997, geb. Clayton, 1932–1947 verh. mit Willard Van Orman Quine and you: “you will see, QuineP Quine, Willard Van Orman, 1908–2000, am. Philosoph, verh. mit Naomi Quine (1932–1947) und Marjorie Boynton Quine (1948–1998) will become good friends to us”. – Meantimes I got a letter from LewisP Lewis, Clarence Irving, 1883–1964, am. Philosoph; he wrote that he will write in my favor to two places, he had heard of the possibility of an invitation for one semester. He did not mention the possibility of an invitation from HarvardI Harvard University, Cambridge MA. It is a pity, InaP Carnap, Ina (eig. Elisabeth Maria immacul[ata] Ignatia), 1904–1964, geb. Stöger, heiratete 1933 Rudolf Carnap and I would have been very happy to be in the same town where NaomiP Quine, Naomi, 1907–1997, geb. Clayton, 1932–1947 verh. mit Willard Van Orman Quine and you are. I heard from different parts that it would not be difficult for a University which has the wish to invite a professor but has not money enough to get a share from the Rockefeller FoundationI Rockefeller Foundation; perhaps this is still a possibility for me to come over.

Now I got an invitation of the University of LondonI Universität London for a course of three lectures. I expect to go to England in the middle of September – after the Internat[ional] Congress for Philosophy in PragueI Internationaler Kongress für Philosophie@8. Internationaler Kongress für Philosophie, Prag, 2.-7.IX.1934– and to spend there some weeks for learning good English pronounciation. The lectures will be in the first half of October.

The translation of the „Die physikalische Sprache usw.“B is now finished; the little book will appear soonly. The agreement with OgdenP Ogden, Charles Kay, 1889–1957, brit. Linguist und Philosoph about the translation of the Logische SyntaxB 1937@The Logical Syntax of Language, London, 1937 is also ready; but now I have to negociate with my German publisher about his consent; this will be a hard work. But I hope to come to a good end. 🕮

I am glad to hear that you finished the rewriting of your bookB Quine, Willard Van Orman!1934@A System of Logistic, Cambridge MA, 1934. I am very interested to learn about your simplifications and your departure from tradition. What a pity that it will appear so late!

You are right: “inhaltlich” would be best translated as “material”; so I suggested to Mr. BlackP Black, Max, 1909–1988, brit.-am. Philosoph for his translation of the Physikalische SpracheB. I heard from SchlickP Schlick, Moritz, 1882–1936, dt.-öst. Philosoph, verh. mit Blanche Guy Schlick, that Malisoff’sP Malisoff, William, 1895–1947, russ.-am. Philosoph translation of my articleB is not a good English. What do you think about? I ask this for the future; because it is the simpliest way for me that MalisoffP Malisoff, William, 1895–1947, russ.-am. Philosoph himself translates the articles.

I don’t know the bookB of TookeP and am very pleased to hear your report. Sorry I shall not get it here in the library.

We were glad to hear that you are quite content with the circumstances in which you live now. It is surely of great value for you that you have now three years only for your work without considerable sorrows about the subsistence. What makes NaomiP Quine, Naomi, 1907–1997, geb. Clayton, 1932–1947 verh. mit Willard Van Orman Quine all the time? Ina is very interested to hear about.

Would you perhaps be willing to write a reviewB of my “Syntax”B 1937@The Logical Syntax of Language, London, 1937 in an American journal? In this case the best way is that the administration of the journal requests a review-copy from the publisher (J. SpringerP Springer, Julius der Jüngere, 1880–1968, dt. Verleger, Wien I, Schottengasse 4) mentioning your name as writer of the review. If you do not like to review please write me; in this case it will be a pleasure for me to send you a complimentary copy.

With heartiest greetings to you both, also from InaP Carnap, Ina (eig. Elisabeth Maria immacul[ata] Ignatia), 1904–1964, geb. Stöger, heiratete 1933 Rudolf Carnap‚

Sincerely yours‚
R. Carnap

Brief, msl., 2 Seiten, WQ; Briefkopf: gestempelt Prof. Dr. Rudolf Carnap  /  Prag XVII.  /  N. Motol, Pod Homolkou, msl. Prague, April 8, 1934.

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