THE LANGUAGE OF SONGS
Sir,-On opening my Listener I was intorested and amused to read your paragraph on "pigeon English." I also heard the announcement of the "Dove Song." To my wife I said at the time, "No, do-vay!" If the song had been printed as sono, probably it would have saved the linguistic bacon of the poor announcer. I pity them with some of the lingual hurdles they have to surmount. However, listeners also have their trials. One hears an announcement of a song with an English title; but, when the singer begins, the ears are assailed with unfamiliar words, and the ‘suffering hearer must adjust his faculties to discover what language is being used, and, if one wishes to understand the words, it is necessary to put on, as it were, one’s appropriate language mental receiving apparatus; or, perhaps I should say; one must begin to think in the required language, if it is a known one. Even with English words, especially if reception is not good, or if the singer does not enunciate clearly enough, it is often difficult to catch all the words. I find that it does help considerably to the enjoyment of the song if I know in what language it is being sung, even though I may not know that language well enough to follow all the meaning; a familiar word here and there gives @ feeling of satisfaction. Of course, with many of the singers we know in what language they always broadcast; but even they do now and then surprise and delight us with a song in English; then, many sing in two or even three languages. Now, sir, I would like to suggest that if the /anguage of the singer were announced along with the title of the selection it-would be a great advantage to the listening audience. Would it be asking too much for this to be done? I would like to take this opportunity of saying what a fine lot of announcers we have here in New. Zealand, I listen
often to the BBC on short wave, and think that our announcers compare very favourably with them in all the requisites of a good radio voice and manner. Their Italian, French and German are usually quite good.
J. A.
HODGES
(Rangiora).
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19450420.2.13.8
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
New Zealand Listener, Volume 12, Issue 304, 20 April 1945, Page 5
Word count
Tapeke kupu
382THE LANGUAGE OF SONGS New Zealand Listener, Volume 12, Issue 304, 20 April 1945, Page 5
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Material in this publication is protected by copyright.
Are Media Limited has granted permission to the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa to develop and maintain this content online. You can search, browse, print and download for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Are Media Limited for any other use.
Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
Copyright in the Denis Glover serial Hot Water Sailor published in 1959 is owned by Pia Glover. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this serial and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the Listener. You can search, browse, and print this serial for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Pia Glover for any other use.
Log in