WORDS AND WAYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20602, 28 June 1930, Page 1 (Supplement)

WORDS AND WAYS.

OUR FALSE GENTILITIES.

BY K.E.W.

Lately Lord Jollicoo declared, according to a cable message, that the English press was a pattern to tho whole world, and the New Zealand press a pattern to tho English. For tho past thirty years, during which I have, at intervals, visited or resided in New Zealand, I have, in many lands, sounded its praises as the last, loneliest, most faithful custodian of the King's good English in this southern hemisphere. Humbly I endorse Lord Jellicoe's declaration as regards tho press, and would extend it to our still, happily, great majority of conservators of speech, - who repudiate the ndoption of cinema boweryisms from an American underworld, and the mock modesties of modern gentcelism.

Oh, New Zealand! adopted father and mother of me, after a few years enforced absence I seem to have returned to a transition stage in the words, ways and manners of a rising generation, affecting also not A few of those elders who should, and do, know better. Ido not refer, to either pre-war or post-war slang. That was good honest slang, British or European. I refer to the cinema Yankeeisms (not even good American) which, adopted first in ridicule, are becoming clichcd into our good New Zealand speech. The " talkies " now ripple' wider circles of debased language round and through Us. And not language only. The exaggerations necessary for popularity among American massesexaggerations at which their " classes " can, perhaps afford to smile—are not these (icenos from demimondaino sources sinking into the dreams of many as Life (with a big L) as it is lived? "Meet Mr. Coolidge." Think of the new method of introduction, in such invitations as " Meet Mr. Coolidge." Here, fellow New Zcalanders, is a departure into cinema Americanism typical of the times. It is becoming, alas, in somo quarters a stereotvped " genteelity." Was not the good old introduction, formal or informal, effective and more euphonious ? And, oh! that response of "Happy to make your acquaintance." My doar sir, it does not follow. You haven't, necessarily. " Sliuro, wasn't O'Bryan good enough for your father ?" said the old lady when her genteel daughter called herself Miss Obriong. Do use the natural and national formula, not > the cinema one. And touching "serviettes," it is, I think, some thirty years since I first noticed this modest, genteel word, and then not in New Zealand. It. was in a conversation overheard, elsewhere, where a head waiter was discussing arrangements for some distinguished visitor. " Says he to me, says he, ' Be sure you have good new napkins on. the table.' Says I to him, ' Sir, you may bo sure there will bo clean serviettes.' " And with conscious pride lie awaited his subordinate's applause. Alas, this memory, long packed away, turned up in a city shop not long ago when I incautiously asked for-a napkinring to replace one lost or strayed. " You want a serviette ring," he replied. "Please try over there.", I didn't I wanted a napkin ring and went down the nearest lift. My tale of such unmentionable rings is still incomplete, and will remain so till I am served with what I want without correction for alleged vulgarity. ." Serviette" is not only the trado namfi. I feat that, in very polite society. I have sometimes, recently heard it. " Oh,wwasn'tt t a napkin < ring good enough for your 'father ?" Of Oaths and Expletives.

lam no Wowser. From archbishop or from dustman tho expletive must come, and at times it affords relief. Even tho female of the species, in secret or otherwise, must, in spite ,of the "genteelities," explode sometimes. Strong language is inherent in us all. I can see, very far away, a small boy of seven or eight, in the dusk ',-f late afternoon passing furtively from room to room seeking a retired spot wherein to practise some strong language that he had that day overheard, though I know not where. Hardly had tho words been uttered, With all the unction that had so impressed him, when from somo sofa, where she had been resting, uprose an astounded older sister. "Oh! Willie, you wicked boy! I'll go straight and tell mama'." And she did! That was long years ago, and I cannot toll now what happened afterwards or why it should stand rooted in my momory, but I was ; that wickod boy/ and that was my " original sin." This ,is addressed not to men—" God help us, for wo knew tho. worst too young " —but to womenkind. The big " D ' il has iong been common to both sexes, when wo stub a toe or hurt a tender corn, and, with other comparitively harmless oaths, it affords, perhaps, a measure of relief. 1 But sometimes forceful words, uncomprehended, accidentally, or by design, fail, on our ears or meet our oyo in reading. Not, long ago a girl caused somo confusion among' us men by announcing, malapropos of some themo of conversation, " You know I am what Shakespeare calls a " (The word is hero. deleted, but tho poor dear little realised its meaning). Again, not long ago, an abominable word. " not to bo named among' Christians,"' dropped as a liasty expletive from uncomprehending lips, token that some degenerate cad, taking advantage of our moro v harmless postwar latitudo, had, and of malice aforethought, introduced it to an unsuspicious circle. Et Cetera. Large cakes and luscious ale to men ate tho' free-and-easiness of mature circles. They may gloat (I do not speak to youths and maidens now), but!—No let me" return to our words and our "genteelities." We are a democracy of good old British middle-class origin, who brought and planted in New Zealand, seeds of best and surest English. Let ow slang be British slang, not underworld Chicagoism. Do not abandon tho "pattern to the world" spoken of by Lord Jellicoo for tho Yankeeisms of second-class American literature. Use the good old English words of your fathers. Uso the tablo napkins and not " serviettes," looking glasses and not "mirrors"; sweat, but don't perspire, wear undorclothes, not "lingerie"; and, for heaven's sake, do not say, " Meet Mr. Coblidge," should you introduce me!