“Rolleston”

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32354, 21 July 1970, Page 14

“Rolleston”

Sir,—Perhaps 1 should make my position on Maori place names clear to Rangi Mete King! and Mr Robertson, of the N.Z.B.C. I believe that when one is speaking Maori one should give the Maori place names their correct Maori pronunciation. Similary, when one is speaking English, one should give the Maori place names their correct Anglicised pronunciation This is what is done all over the world In Canada, where two languages are spoken, there is an obvious parallel When an announcer on the C.B.C. Is speaking English, he pronounces Paris, Montreal, of London tn the English way; when be is speaking French, he says “Paree” “Mongrayal” (if you will excuse my phonetics!) and “Londre.” So tn Maori, Paraparaumu is “Para-para-00-moo”; -but the correct pronunciation when one is speaking English is “Parra peramm." As far as “Rolleston” is concerned, I believe, when we are still only three generations beyond the distinguished pioneer Superintendent of Canterbury Province, it is a bit early to follow, a popular,' but ignorant, mispronunciation. Yours, etc., H. L. GARRETT. July 20, 1970.

Sir,—As the grandson of a Canterbury pioneer, I strongly support Mrs H. L. Garrett and Dr R. S. Duff in their condemnation of the N.Z.B.C.’s instructing its announcers to pronounce “Rolleston” as a three-syllable word. The Hon

William Rolleston, In whose honour the township of Rolleston was named, pronounced his name “Rolls-ton.” He was a Superintendent of the Province of Canterbury and as such was somewhat in the same category as the Rt Hon. R. J. Seddon, Prime Minister of New Zealand, In whose honour the township of Seddon was named. If some ill-informed persons were to pronounce it “See-don," would the N.Z.B.C. wholeheartedly approve of the mispronunciation? It seems to me that one of the functions of the N.Z.B.C. is to be an example of correct pronunciation, even when words are mispronounced by a section of the public. In these matters the N.Z.B.C. should give a lead to the public and not tag along with people who are careless about pronunciation. —Yours, etc., A. D. HARMAN. July 20. 1970.

Sir,—After reading the reply of the N.Z.B.C. Christchurch radio manager to Mrs H. L. Garrett, I can understand some of the fatuous things perpetuated by N.Z.B.C. staff at times. Mrs Garrett was not being contradictory but was pointing out that the N.Z.B.C. is being contradictory in having correct pronunciation instead of common pronunciation for Maori words, but ruling that common pronunciation of a pakeha name is to be used instead of the correct pronunciation. In case Mr Robertson would take issue on what is the correct pronunciation of a pakeha name, I would say that the only authority is the individual or family bearing that name.—Yours, etc., GRANITE. July 17, 1970.