THE TALKIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20474, 28 January 1930, Page 14

THE TALKIES.

Sir, —New Zealanders do not, as a rule, take kindly to imported vulgarism!!, corruptions or abbreviations. We have set up a certain standard of speech to which most of us endeavour to keep. Wo have never adopted the American term " movies," or that commonly used in Great Britain, " cinemas." When the great invention showing motion on a screen was first introduced to this country we named it " moving pictures," soon this was shortened to pictures, and! so it has remained till to-day, when we are faced with the problem of finding, a suitable pame for what is both seen and heard. " Talkies" is a vulgar abomination which few of us can use without a mental shudder. Besides, it is inadequate, as it conveys the idea that the only sound produced is the human voice in speech, whereas the innovation gives us song, instrumental music, and all the various sounds of earth, pleasing or otherwise. The word which shall express all these cannot, it seems to me, be coined from the English language; we must seek it in Greek or Latin. I suggest " phonofilm" as being euphonious, expressive, and in keeping with our standard of speech. M.B.S.