“JAW GYMNASTICS”

Hokitika Guardian, 5 December 1928, Page 2

“JAW GYMNASTICS”

FOB TELEPHONE OPERATORS

SAX FRANCISCO, October 10.

A system of jaw gymnastics for telephone operators, ranging from practice in curing the tongue to flapping the lower jaw up and down rapidly like the dummy of ail old-fashioned ventriloquist, was advocated at a State convention of Indiana telephone officials magazine. “ Telephony.” One of the chief faults of tin* girls who apply for training as telephone operators :s wh.it Mrs Van Ert calls “rigid jaw.” Either because it is felt to he had manners to he seen moving the face, or for some other reason, mouths are often kept almost closed when speaking; lips are held tight and immobile. Before a good “ telephone voice ” can be cultivated it is necessary, Mrs Van Ert believes, to break these had habits and to learn to move the jaws, lips, and tongue freely and easily. To tea eh a free swing ol t lie jaw the suggested bxorei.se consists ol dropping the lower jaw until the width ol two fingers can be inserted between it a ltd the upper olic. This is then repeated rapidly many times, meanwhile saying “ Yah-vah-ynh.”

Another exercise, intended to increase mobility of the lips, is to keep the teeth closed and rapidly alternate the shape of the lips between an open circle like the expression of a movie ■lift ross j i bon t to be kissed, and a wide grin with the lips drawn back as Ia r as possible on both sides.

I’erformed in front ol the mirror. .Mrs Van Art admits these exercises arc apt to make the victim chiefly thankful that she does not need to look that way all the time, but they are excellent for the voice.