The "Cinderella of the Alphabet"

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 45, 17 May 1935, Page 50

The "Cinderella of the Alphabet"

To the Editor Sir,-In your’ issue of May 8 you ask "Should we have English announcers?" Yes, says, "Caius," denouneer of announcers, Ky all means let us replace tha New Zealand sons of Belial with the sons of Balliol-and Caius; but why limit the field of choice to Oxford and Cambridge? What's the matter with Old Trinity in Dublin? Que of the Empire's leading exemplars of English speech hails from Dublin of thereabouts, and.if there is a better authority than Mr, G. Bernard, Shaw, "Caius" will perhaps name him. Moreover, Dublin is noted: for its robust. correct Inglish-not merely the speech of the university men, but also that of the citizens generally. . Recently I listened to a broadcast talk of Lord Beaverbrook who,.by the ‘way, is a Canadian. [t was a treat. His speech is erystal clear. Te slightly trilled the letter "R" where it occurred in a word, and sounding that letter-the Cinderella of the alphabet-appears to be "bad form" in the English cultured citeles. It is "not done." Not only is the "R" usually ignored, but it is suppressed in word combinations such as "there are" (Oxon. "theah ah"; Cantab, ditto), where the

trill, it is entitled to makes for clarity an easy: speech, Taking them all in all, New Zealaac announcers are easy to listen to. ‘Chere is occasionally faulty speech, of course, but if the.men behind the microphone will remember that they are, ina sense, edicators, they will try to avoid the errots "Caius" complains. of. So carry ou, announcers, and do not forget that there is always among your listeners n chiel takin’ notes--I am, ete.,

K.

H.

Auckiand