THE KING'S ENGLISH

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 628, 5 September 1933, Page 7

THE KING'S ENGLISH

EFFECTIYELY SPOKEN BY KING GEORGE THE FIFTH. "He can't speak the King's English!" We sometimes hear this remark, referring to the grammatical, or rather ungrammatical, construction of sentences. But, after listening to the recent broadcast, imperfect as it was, of the address of welcome at the Economic Conference, the term takes on a wider and fuller meaning. Rarely has one heard a voice more effectively used, English more perfectly spoken, than by his Majesty," says a writer in the Sydney Morning Herald. Of all man's gifts, one of the most wonderful is the human voice. And yet, how seldom are its possibilities realised. And how often is the effect of a pleasant appearance spoiled when the mouth is opened! One is ii^ a tram, a train, a boat, and opposite are two or three splendid specimens of Australian girlhood, in all outward respects admirable, until they commence to talk. And then one nioves sadly away. And how rarely are boys taught, at hom-e or at school, to get nrusic and tone from their voices, instead of merely sounds! There are numerous opportunities of hearing English well spoken, from visiting artists (the Thorndike-Cas-son visit is still fresh in the memory, and there have been others since), and from the better films. Over the air, also, there comes a voice really worth listening to; some announcers are a pleasure to hear, although of others it were kinder not to speak. Affected Accents. It is unfortunate that the idea of an "English accent" attaches igenerally to that affected imitation which is oecasionally brought hack by someone who has spent a short period in England and wants everyone to know it. Ope of these unconscious humorists was making a speech the other day, possibly intelligent, but barely intelligible, when a listener was heard to exclaim, "Lord, it's a wonder he doesn't swallow his tonsils!" But such a burlesqing of the mother tongue is ahout as true a representation of cultured English as the language of "The Sentimental Bloke," is typical of the educated Australian. It might he exepcted that in the halls of our legislators the ear should be soothed by tbe music of great men's voices. But, with a few notable exceptions, the visitor is liable, to put it euphemistically, to be somewhat disappointed. It may be that the strain of electioneering has been too much' for the great men's vocal chords, or perchance they have heard their own voices so often that they have grown used to them. The basic reason for this laclc of music in the average; speaking voice is clear; at school, at home, and even at the University, there is too often an entire absence of teaching on the the subject. If children were taught to take a pride in their voices, as an essential, and very important, part of their personal appearance, much good could be done. Our language is a great heritage, and our voices a great gift. The American 'gangster ( fflms have shown us just how awful they can he made. And it is fitting that the possibilities of beauty in the use of the King's English should be made apparent in the English of the King himself.