AMERICAN TALKIES.

Southland Times, Issue 21092, 26 May 1930, Page 3

AMERICAN TALKIES.

To the Editor. Sir, —The correspondence appearing in your columns last week anent the talkie “Disraeli,” has prompted me to ventilate another grievance—not, however, against the production itself. All who had ths pleasure of hearing "Disraeli” must have enjoyed the beautiful English as spoken by Mr George Arliss and his supporting artists. This was all the more striking in contrast to the abominable nasal, twang and Yankee slang that is generally reproduced by the “talkie.” I wonder that there has not been an outcry from one end of New Zealand to the other against this class of language that is being assimilated by thousands, young and old, night after night and will verily make itself heard in their daily conversations.

The new' syllabus of instruction that was issued to schools last year laid special emphasis upon speech training and detailed methods to be adopted to secure pure vowel sounds and habits of correct speech. Special stress was laid upon the value of a good example being set by the teacher. But, Sir, what about the example set by the talkie? The teachers will be quite unable to stem the tide of Americanisms that will sweep our Dominion in the near future if this class of production that I have complained of is not prohibited. New Zealand has much to be proud of in its spoken English; iet *us strain every effort to improve it whore improvement is desirable and prevent forces which would undoubtedly undermine it, exerting their baneful influences. It’s too late to close the door after the bird has escaped; and if action is not taken very soon irreparable harm will be done to the language of the rising as well as of succeeding generations. Cannot our educational institutions and other organizations raise a protest?—l am, CU NEW ZEALANDER.