BOOKS OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 235, 22 June 1918, Page 11

BOOKS OF THE DAY

A' Useful Reference Book. To Messrs. Funk and Wagnalls' "Standard D.esk Bonk Series" liils recently been added a reference work which hns ninny special claims to popular patronage. Tjiis is "A Desk Book of 25,000 words frequently mispronounced," by Dr. Frank Jl. Vizetelly, Litt. D LLl> (N.Y.: Funk and .Wagnalls Co., per Angus and Hobertson, Sydney). Tho editor s obiect has l>een to indicate "the correct pronunciation of English words, foreign terms, Bible names, personal unities, geographical names, and proper ■tames or' all kinds current in literature, science and tho arts." In addition to these, all ordinary word? which arc likoly lo provide stumbling-blocks to correct pronunciation are included. Many terms needing explanation are concisely denned, find wherever necessary, orthoepic and historic notes, or quotations, illustrating usage, .are appended. In, this'latter respect it is claimed by the publishers that this work is unique. The book lias a specially Ivaluuble historical value in (lint tho preferences of tho principal dictionaries of tho English language, from Bullokar'a "English Expositour, cr C'ornpleat Dictionary," issued iu 1616, to "Funk and Wagnalls' New Standard Dictionary," 1916, are placed on record, ami national peculiarities indicated and explained." Thus, the volume, .containing recommendations of the leading lexicographers of thuee centuries, presents the most complete consensus of English pronunciation that has ever been compiled. In this respect it stands alone- in its class,. for no other ortheopist has attempted such a task. The work includes a large number of proper nauues, such as Szegedin, Paomsyl (the tfalician town tho name of which proved such a. stumblingblook in early war conversation), Ypres, Reims, and Amiens. "Communique" (the linotype prevents me placing the necessary accent on the "e") is here, but I raise the now very familiar "camouflago," and another notablo omission is '.'Boche," concerning' the derivation of which there have been so many intoresting discussions amongst philologists. Where, however, there is such a rich store of' orthographical and philological information.—tho book runs into over 1)00 closoly-paeked pages—it would bo captious to make too much of an occasional omission. Dr. Vizetelly has produced a work which is a marvel of ingeniously appbed industry, and I warmly commend his book as being a most valuable addition to every .reference library. Tho typographical execution of tho book is admirable. The introductory ossay is interesting in that it contains liome amusingly satirical remarks on tho smug, complaoancy with which so many English' peoplo assume that only in England cau a correct pronunciation of English be found. Tho editor says wo are all too much given to "paying too much nttontion to accent and too little to distinot enunciation." He realises, he says, that "owing to it's constant changes it is as impossible for anyone to establish a standard of pronunciation for tho entire English-speaking world as it is to stem.the tide of the sea," but he has given, he savs, "that wiich appwrra to him to be the best current usage aa he liaa heard it in America and England."