"DO NEW ZEALANDERS SPEAK BADLY?"
Sir,-The discussion on New Zealand voices and speech was interes‘ing to an old woman of pioneer stock. Among my young relations it is noticeable that, on the whole, the girls speak better than the young men, and the articulation is clearer. The youths are apt to talk on the vowels and barely sound the consonants; also the voices are rather monotonous. It may be that this is owing to the schools, the girls’ education having been at private schools and the boys mostly at the large Government secondary colleges. One point that strikes me in English speakers has been the courteous in-
flection of really cultivated men which is on quite a different level from what can sound rather patronising and superior and artificial to New Zealand ears, Even in extreme old age, Sit Gilbert Murray’s beautiful voice is delicht-
ful.
M.E.
G.
(Eastbourne).
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19570524.2.19.6
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
New Zealand Listener, Volume 36, Issue 928, 24 May 1957, Page 11
Word count
Tapeke kupu
149"DO NEW ZEALANDERS SPEAK BADLY?" New Zealand Listener, Volume 36, Issue 928, 24 May 1957, Page 11
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