Words and Phrases.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20504, 4 January 1935, Page 6

Words and Phrases.

AN ENGLISH NEWSPAPER the other A day referred to “ the whole dunciad of secret diplomacy.” A young friend has asked the meaning of the strange word, which does not appear in Webster. “ The Dunciad ” was a satirical poem published in London in 1728 by Alexander Pope in ridicule of Colley Cibber and others of his literary contemporaries. Visitors to New Zealand find an unusually high standard of general education among the people. That standard is most happily expressed in the assurance with which average men converse with one another in easy sentences based upon a knowledge of what they are talking about. It is a pleasant thing in public places to hear persons talking unrestrainedly in fairly cultured tones without any fear that their neighbours or strangers may overhear what they have to communicate to one another in the way of small talk, or more serious matters. This valuable assurance, which every man should covet, can be built only upon a knowledge of right and wrong, but when you man say that he “ took a lend ” •of anything you realise that he is not qualified to be rated among the average of educated New Zealanders. “ Touchstone ” has lately heard one or two addresses over the radio and here, too, there has been hesitancy and commonplace pronunciation that have rated the speakers well below the average. The Broadcasting Board should see to it that in every direction, even in sports announcing and what now goes by the name of sports commentaries. men should be chosen who can offer something better than a semi-bucolic, uncultured, rough-and-ready presentation of facts. TOUCHSTONE.