THE GERMAN LANGUAGE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4488, 7 August 1875, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE GERMAN LANGUAGE.

(From the Contemporary lie view.) The German language, as socially spoken, does not sound musical, but tho opera-singers so modify the pronunciation as to make it soft and agreeable, I am acquainted rath no language, however, which sounds so differently from different lips as does this German. The Saxon pronunciation, though by no means the harshest, is the most demoralised of all; and those foreigners who have formed their accent ou Saxon models have, lumanly speaking, disqualified themselves from ever getting it right. In its perfection, German is eminently a masculine tongue, but Dresden has emasculated it. She clips it, whines it, undulates it, singsongs it, lubricates it, until it becomes a very eunuch of languages. The hard, clear, deliberate Hanoverian pronunciation compares with hers as chips of ice shaken iu a crystal goblet, with lukewarm dish-water filliped in a greasy slop-bowl. My feeling with regard to the pronunciation of foreign languages is perhaps curious, but observation incl iues me to believe that it is not altogether unique. I never imitate the native accent without feeling a little ashamed of myself, and the closer my imitation, the greater my loss of self-respect. On the other hand, au execrably English twang, or, still more, a few English words thrown iu here and there, revive my drooping independence like a tonic. I may he as correct ir. my grammar, and iu tho placing of my verbs and participles, as my knowledge will admit, without a whisper of self-reproach ; but the moment I attempt to disguise my nationality I am degraded. Moveover, supposing such disguise possible, what is gained by it 2 Is it so great a triumph to bo mistaken for a Saxon, for instance 2 There is surely nothing intellectual in mimicry, and our host success amounts to nothing higher than that. No ; a foreign accent is to be shunned rather - than sought. It is as demoralising as to wear another man’s clothes. It cannot be attained without doing violence to the inner nature—to those flue perceptions of modesty and decorum whiclr give character its worth. A person who spoaks a foreign language so well as to deceive a native, is rarely a delicateminded man. He will either be subtle, deceitful, sly, with a talent for intrigue, or else superficial, coarse, and vain. He can seldom possess a sensitive and nicely balanced individuality. Besides, what is called a broken accent is not displeasing to tho nativer hearer; rather it impresses him as a sort of indirect compliment to the supreme refinement of his tongue. And at best we find ourselves sayiug tilings iu a foreign language which we should uover dream of uttering in their own. AVe feel it to he a veil upon our real selves, and so venture upon unaccustomed liberties ; like scurrilous critics who write anonymously. There is a point beyond which cosmopolitanism becomes unwholesome.