THE NEW ZEALAND ACCENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 188, 11 August 1925, Page 6

THE NEW ZEALAND ACCENT.

Mr. J. W. Shaw's lecture on accent at the Institute last evening" was a mark of the increase in interest in this subject. It also illustrated the extension of the scope of these popular lectures under the'auspices of the leading scientific body in Auckland. Mr. Shaw brought both study and common sense to bear on the question. The pronunciation of New Zealanders is often criticised. We are accused of having a twang. The truth is that all Englishspeaking countries have their peculiarities of speech, and- while perfection should be our ideal, it is fair to ask critics to use the comparative method. While some visitors have found an unpleasant New Zealand accent, others have been delighted with the purity of New Zealand speech, and, while we are sensible of the prevalence of slipshod English and ugly enunciation, wo be- : lieve that there is more . justification for the latter than for the former view. The number of men and women who speak . really well, choosing their words properly and pronouncing them clearly and without accent of any kind, is much smaller than it might bp, and an English visitor might be disappointed at meeting so few. We are sure, however, that in this country, where there are no dialects, the average level of speech is higher than in England. Mr. Shaw is right in saying that affectations, from Oxford or elsewhere, are not wanted, and that the standard to be followed is the speech used in ordinary social intercourse- by educated people. He is also justified in saying that here the conditions are exceptionaJly good for cultivating a pure national accent. Our isolation is an asset. It has often been said that the purest English is spoken in Dublin. It would be something, to be proud of to have it said that it was spoken in Xcw Zealand.