BAD PRONUNCIATION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 176, 20 April 1908, Page 11

BAD PRONUNCIATION.

..' OBJECTIONABLE ACCENT. (BX ,)-Et.ECHAl'K.—El'EClil COBEESrONDENT.) '' '*•; Auckland, April 17. Ati tho mooting of the Auck-land-Education Board, Sir. C. J. Parr brought up tho subjcct of the manner in which tho Enelish' language is spoken by the school children of the Auckland district. Mr. fParr said that there was a most imperfect , and objectionable accent obtaining. This particularly noticeable in the city. Instead of pronouncing their English fairly tccuratoly tliey mispronoiinced the words and we raj gradually obtaining a bad Sydney or cocl&sy accent. Tho average sixth-standard boy's pronunciation of English was most imperfMbv There was a broadening of tho " a " m nearly all their words "I" was never pronounced "i" short but "ai." He had been giyiij'g'coneiderable attention to the subjcct for -sonao time past. Ho thought tho Board might- set its facc against the laxity of pronunciition in the schools. Mr. Parr expressed'the opinion that some sort of intimation/.. should be given to teachers and inspectors • _th»t tho practice must not be allownd -to increase. ; Mr. ■ Edgecnmbo said 110 believed tho trouble began with tho teachers themselves. It was nothing n-.oro or loss than affectation. II« believed it probably originated in America, arid was copied. (Laughter.) Tlioy turnrd " o"- into " ao," and "a" into "ai." It was a most objectionable method. Other; mombers concurred, and it was decided to obtain a report from tho Chief Inspector on tho subject. 1.