A Good Voice and A Pure Accent

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7169, 17 March 1930, Page 5

A Good Voice and A Pure Accent

IMPORTANCE OF EARLY TRAINING. Very few people stop to consider how very important a part their voices may play in their lives, yet it has recently been proved that, hundreds of women in the film world are at present out of work, simply because they do not know how to speak. And many of the “stars” arc now taking lessons in voice cultivation and elocution, because their livelihood, depends upon their ability to please the public.

Matters are not quite so serious with' the average girl, but a good voice and a pleasant accent are very important items in the list of qualifications with which she faces the world. The most homely and dowdy women become interesting personalities if they have musical speaking voices, whereas the effect, of a pretty face is completely spoiled by a shrill, throaty, or insipid voice. These defects arc easily romedied in childhood, and it is the duty of every mother to devote some portion of each day to the training of her children’s voices. Children pick up an unpleasant accent with amazing rapidity, though it is a curious fact that those with a bad accent never by any chance pick up a good one. A fault in accent or grammar should never be allowed to pass uncorrected, no matter how many times the word has to be repeated. At the age of about twelve, a girl’s voice is apt to become shrill and throaty, and sho is inclined to. speak much too quickly, swallowing half her words. This will be particularly noticeable if she is asked to read aloud. Stop this careless habit at once. Make her say each word slowiy and distinctly, from the chest, not from the back of the nose. Your child will not thank you now, but sho will later.

Adenoids are the cause of a good deal of voice trouble. Every mother should be acquainted with the symptoms; open mouth, heavy lids, thick speech, constant catarrh, and a general heavy dull look. There can be no charming musical voice in a case like this until medical treatment is obtained. But the ordinary, healthy, normal child can easily be trained to speak deeply, clearly, and with a pure accent, as a matter of course.