ENGLISH BETTER SPOKEN IN AMERICA

Shannon News, 7 May 1926, Page 2

ENGLISH BETTER SPOKEN IN AMERICA

“Americans enunioiate English nioie elearlv than English people do,” writes Mr. Ervine, of the London ‘Observer.’ “His Holiness the Pope lately remarked that he understood English better when he heard it from Americans than when he. heard it from Englishmen. It is idle, to tell me that Americans speak dreadfully. Many of them do, but no fair-minded person can deny that educated Ameiicans speak more distinctly than educated English people do. The English language is a beautiful language, and we shall be poor servants of our race if we allow it to be corrupted by empty-minded snobs. I have already referred to the fact that the word ‘extraordinary’ is seldom properly pronounced in England, but is nearly always properly pronounced in America. In England it is commonly pronounced ‘extrawdiny. What a way to speak a fine word!” “What, is one to do,’ "’asks Mr. Brvine. "with the parson who whines through the liturgy of the church like a sick hyena? One goes to church and hears a curate debasing the coins of speech by turning a px-ayer like the third collect of evensong into a xniserablo moan. How often have vfe heard that prayer spoken like this? ‘Latcn ow dcukness, we besee Thee, oo Law. and bay Thay gray meliey defen us fawn all palils and dangahs of theese note, for the lahv of Thay ownly Son, ah Saveyah, Jesas Clireest.” This is wlxat Mr. Ervine calls "the polate Oxford voice.” Water is “water,” not “wotta” —" and anyone who pronounces it otherwise is either tone-deaf or a silly snob,” says Mr. Ervine. It is Oxford’ ’that is “polate, refaned Oxfohd’ that is spoil ing the English language in England.