THE AMERICAN ACCENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20869, 11 May 1931, Page 9

THE AMERICAN ACCENT.

TALKING FILMS DEFENDED. NEED OF PURE ENGLISH. Theatre managers have been interested by the question asked recently in the Legislative Council by the Hon. G. M. Thomson whether steps could bo taken "to purge the vile American accent" from some of the talking pictures exhibited in New Zealand. Mr. John Fuller has expressed the views of theatre .managers in a Teply addressed to Mr. Thomson. Sir. Fuller contends that talking films have actually emphasised the importance of speaking correct English. They afford the public practical opportunities to judge accents, and, Sir. taller adds, there is a definite trend among the Americans -'Co-day to speak purer English. In his letter to Mr. Thomson, Mr. duller says:—"l see that you are asking whether the Government would issue instructions to those charged with the censorship of films to purge, as far as possible, the vile American accent. I would like to point out- to you that the advent of the talkies has awakened Eng-lish-speaking people,, including Americans, to the importance oi correct speaking. In the past, tho talkie machine itself over-accentua'ied the American speech. The Americans themselves are using truer English to-dav than was tho case at the inception of the talkies. Owing to American capital and English genius, in England the British films are fast outpacing thoso of America. Dialects in talkies, whether they be Scots, Irish, American, Lancashire or the Oxford bleat, are not suitable to the talkies ex' cept where characterisations demand it, and only true, round-sounding English is acceptable to the public. The public lias demonstrated its preference and the reform is being gradually brought about." It is considered by Mr. Fuller that great results are to be expected from tho renewed interest taken in the correctness of pronunciation since the advent of talking pictures. This interest had been apparent in the lectures given over the wireless. With its mixed population of English, Irish and Scottish, New Zealand was fortunate that pure English speech was generally predominant.