PLATFORM MANNERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 84, 9 April 1938, Page 19

PLATFORM MANNERS

WOMEN THE WORLD OVER

PRAISE FOR NEW ZEALANDERS

I An amusing analysis of the platform I manners of women speakers was given i recently by Mrs. Alfred Watt, Cana- | dian-born president of the Associated I Countrywomen of the World, states an overseas writer. Mrs. Watt considers that one of the most beautiful speakers in the world is a Jewess talking Hebrew, and she regards the Indian woman speaker as an orator. Here are some of her opinions of - other women speakers:— English Women: "A clear and precise, if cold, mode of speech. Do not . speak unless they have something to , say. Have the advantage of voices with ' a beautiful tone, pleasant modulations, and distinct enunciation. Apt to use i cliches and conform to type." Scots Women: "When they forget that \ they are Scots, they are interesting I speakers, with an engaging accent. ; They can use both humour and pathos ito advantage. Jokes against them- ■ selves always delight audiences. They I are very emotional, but not lacking in ■ calm self-assurance." ' Welsh Women: "They have a delight- ' ful manner, and all the resources of i rhetoric are theirs. They are usually • internationally-minded." i Irish Women: "Irishwomen do not ; need to learn to speak—they can get ; away with anything. They can. say things with which audiences profoundly disagree, yet shriek for more. I \ should not like to risk a tilt with an Irishwoman in public—the audience would be with her. How wise of Mr. Chamberlain to chat with Mr. de Valera in private." Australian Women: "They speak in a narrative form, use considerable emotion, but are apt to repeat themselves. They are very anxious to speak well, and treat subjects conscientiously." . Canadian Women: "Often lack grace and diction, but seem to have a personal charm which gets them a ready hearing. They are very nervous speakers, and would benefit from training in public speaking." New Zealand and South African Women: "They have excellent delivery and method. Their vocabulary is rather limited, but they speak simply and naturally." French Women: "They are devastatingly polite and decisive, jerky in method of speech, but self-possessed." American Women: "They are not afraid to be original and personal, and are usually amusing. They have a directness of utterance and a quality of unexpectedness which arouses interest at once. Many of them are much more wordy than .they need be," I German Women: "Their speeches are well prepared and exhaustive— sometimes exhausting. They take themselves very seriously."