CORRECT SPEECH.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5020, 30 August 1926, Page 3

CORRECT SPEECH.

VIEWS OF MAXWELL-WALKER.

A CHANCE FOR NEW ZEALAND.

In the course of his remarks at Thursday night’s session of the Paeroa Orphans’ Club Professor MaxwellWalker, of Auckland, gave an interesting discourse with regard to the use of correct speech. In pleading for the correct and careful use of our old Mother tongue he said that thought was undoubtedly the miracle of, creation, and surely the expression of thought was worthy of correct pronunciation. People who wished "to study any particular language travelled to foreign lands toi acquire the intimate knowledge, of correct speech. With tlie English language it was invariably found that the average -man was very careless in his speech. It was worthy of remembrance that correct speech produced distinction and distinctiveness. Averagely speaking people did not, pay the attention to speech that they should. The principle of slovenly speech was nothing more ,tha,n inertia, and laziness in using correct speech was an unforgivable crime. Audibility \vas one o f the principal-essentials, arid yet how often people slurred their words. Public speakers, men at the Bar, and teachers were the people, from whom to expect something better, but it was often questionable if such people did use correct speech. Giving an example of “parsonicM speech,” the Professor said that such belonged to the Da,rk Ages, and the only reason that could be assigned for its institution yas perhaps because it had been thought that it was creative of an impression. However, it was quite incorrect. Correct English speech was worthy df. cultivation from the point of view of the utilitarian and aesthetic side. He said that if the people of Ne,w Zealand would wa,ke up and apply themselves they would have a glorious opportunity of building up a speech which would be an example to* the whole world. With a Dominion population of only about one and a half millions there was, fortunately, no dominating accent, and we had a, wonderful opportunity toi set a high standard of speech. If possible,- the speaker said, he would like to see compulsion brought on school teachers to take an interest in articulation, production, and a more careful study of speech. The influence of teachers would be far-reaching, because, it was necessary to remember that in 20 years’ time the children of to-day would be fathers and mothers, who wtould hand on the art of correct speech, and thus a high standard would be gradually but surely built up, and the resultant good would be incalculable. It was the duty of orphans’- clubs, said the speaker, to facilitate and help to make for the good sound progress of New Zealand. It should be the aim of orphans’ clubs to have the membehship representative of a superior type of man, and with that type it should be a duty to endeavour to> concentrate on correct speech, and above all to control that spirit of inertia which we. were only tooi prone to allow to control Ourselves.