CAMPAIGN VOICES
cussion in Parliament not long ago about the "affected" voices of radio announcers and the desirability of hearing some "good New Zealand voices" for a change. Of course, any speaker who shapes his sounds with precision is likely to be thought "affected" by a good many in our sloppily-speaking society. But recent election campaign broadcasts almost suggest to me that our politicians have set out to give practical illustrations of the disadvantages of Kiwi intonation. ‘St-’st-’st and What’s-his-"name, and also You-know-who (the task of filling up the blanks I'd rather leave -to you) all have colourless, monotonous voices, disfigured by the coarse vowels, nasality, and careless enunciation of our ordinary speech. Doubtless they all had "something valuable to say, but in only one case did I think it was said with clarity and_ effectiveness. In some American rural areas, candidates speak in braces and shirt-sleeves, to show that they are "just folks." I can’t help wondering if the thick spreading accent in recent campaign broadcasts is not a similar device to attract voters who would not dream of voting for any "superior" type who speaks as. clearly as a radio announcer. ] SEEM*to remember some dis-
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19541112.2.42.1
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
New Zealand Listener, Volume 31, Issue 799, 12 November 1954, Page 24
Word count
Tapeke kupu
197CAMPAIGN VOICES New Zealand Listener, Volume 31, Issue 799, 12 November 1954, Page 24
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