Say It in English

New Zealand Listener, Volume 29, Issue 729, 3 July 1953, Page 15

Say It in English

N ancient Swedish proverb which says that the hooves of the sheep are golden because wherever they walk a trail of wealth and riches is left behind provides the title--The Golden Feetfor a series of talks on the ‘history of wool and the use of the wool fibre which is being heard from National stations. They will be broadcast next from 1YA in Feminine Viewpoint, starting on Monday, July 6. "We can look from our windows, most of us, and see, somewhere, hills which graze sheep," says Bruce Petrie, Publicity Officer to the New Zealand Wool Board (above), who gives the talks. There are (he says) constant reminders all about us of our sheep industry, Our 35,000 woolgrowers are found from Whangarei to Otautau, and the rest of us must acknowledge our economic vassalage to the sheep and its products. These home thoughts aren’t, however, much more than a springboard for Mr. Petrie, for quite soon he’s back at the very beginning of the sheep’s long story. He goes on to discuss some qualities and attributes of the wool fibre, follows the history of wool (particularly in Britain) from the New Stone Age to today, discusses the production of yarns and the worsted process, and ends with a glance at what he calls "the continuing heritage" of the sheep-a heritage which today is "largely in the hands of the woolgrowers of the British Commonwealth, who through their international organisations, administered by themselves, are supporting the prosperity of millions of people." — oo

| AST year when a Scot broadcast to New Zealanders telling them how to speak English several correspondents protested that they could barely understand what was said. Many more, however, wrote to the learned Scot asking questions about their language, Professor Ian Gordon’s radio series Say It In English became a popular Sunday afternoon ZB feature. More will be heard from Professor Gordon soon when a new series of Say It In English begins from the four ZB stations. Each week he will devote part of his programme to topics of general interest related to the English language and part to questions sent in by listeners. The only proper reply to the question of what is right and what is wrong in English, he says, is "Ask me 50 years hence and I'll tell you the right answer." But in the meantime, Professor Gordon is prepared to discuss and adjudicate on today’s accepted usages. He deals with such perennial queries as whether "between you and I" is permissible, and whether Maria should be pronounced Mar-eye-ah or Maree-ah. The latter depends, it seems, on what school you went to. Say It In English will be heard weekly from the four ZB stations at 4.30 p.m. on Sundays, beginning July 5.