BROADCAST ENGLISH
Sir,-I think John Doe (Auckland) is amiss in regard to the word "precedence," as it is now usually pronounced with the accent or stress on the first syllable, although both pronunciations are in order (see Concise Oxford Dictionary). English is a living language and the meaning and pronunciation are constantly changing; the spelling also. Suppose we do get some board to direct pronunciation of English who will direct the board? Before we can have a standard language we must have a_ standard spelling, as the want of this is the main cause of words being mispronounced. ; Who can explain the vagaries of English spelling and pronunciation? The International Phonetic Alphabet would probably cause further confusion, but it is still possible to effect a great improvement in spelling by using the conventional and familiar symbols, with a very few additions, say, one each to A.E.G.LO.R.S. To-day the spelling of English is more like mental gymnastics, and as to pronunciation, your guess is as good as mine, as there are no fixed rules. St. Ledger becomes Sillinger, Saint John-Sin Jin, Beaulieu--Bewly, Portishead-Pozzet, Seven OaksSnoaks or Snooks, and going by this rule the American called Niagara Falls-Niffles. The following was taken from the English Daily Mail some time ago-" English as she is Spoke ": Abscond-a greenish coloured drink, now illegal in France. Abide-to purchase; as in the sentence " Abide a new hat, chic isn’t it?" Acid-to talk, to convey one’s thoughts: " Acid to her, you’re no lady! acid." Aim-a refained contraction of I am, as in "Aim awareless announcer." Censor-a word frequently used by moralists thus: No censor right or wrong. Chest-barely, only. Illustration: Chest a song at twilight. ‘ Hedge-what a razor has; the dangerous part of a cliff. -- desperate condition; to be in a terrible plate. Waddle-a contraction of "what will" as in the song, " Waddle I do?"
LAPSUS LINGUAE
(Te Awamutu),
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19410321.2.8.6
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 4, Issue 91, 21 March 1941, Page 4
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312BROADCAST ENGLISH New Zealand Listener, Volume 4, Issue 91, 21 March 1941, Page 4
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