SPOKEN ENGLISH
Sir-My note on Mr. Fairburn’s articles was written too soon; my answer to his letter may come too late. I should, however, like to add a coda to this bustness of Southern English. Tricks of speech like table’ manners or clothes may undoubtedly be classed under the heading of. group-behaviour and may have originated in the adoption of distinctive group-habits. But to me, at least, Mr. Fairburn suggested that individuals in the class in question consciously, deliberately or snobbishly affect certain turns of speech with the cansidered intention of distinguishing themselves from the "lower orders." As for the elided "R," my note was directed specifically at the substitution of W for R and did not extend to the admittedly general practice of neglecting to sound the R altogether. I stand to my point though Providence has provided Mr. Fairburn with a Field Marshal. The Field Marshal in this, as in other matters,’is ex-
| ceptional.
NGAIO
MARSH
(Christchurch). er
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 17, Issue 424, 8 August 1947, Page 5
Word count
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160SPOKEN ENGLISH New Zealand Listener, Volume 17, Issue 424, 8 August 1947, Page 5
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