IMPERIAL ENGLISH.
THE BEST ACCENT FOUND AMONG THE MAORIS. ■'The most perfect English accent is found among the Maoris of New Zealand,” said, Professor Firth, of Australia, at the Imperial Teachers’ Congress at Caxton Hall, London, S.W.. the other day. “In New Zealand tlio pronunciation of English is good, but it is exquisite among the melodious Maoris. Where any sign of degeneracy in speech is noticed it is due to importations from Australia.”
Professor Stanley Kidd, of Rhodes University College, Grahamstown, South Africa, assorted tliat in the over-sea Dominions there was great peril of a growth of pronunciation which recognised no standard at all, or one very different form from that of England. “If English is to he the common imperial l.anguage_i.t is highly important that we should aim at homogeneous pronunciation.” Dr. Hcogenhout, of Pretoria, said they were aware of deficiencies in South Africa, and were giving prizes to the children showing the clearest accent. Nasalisation (speaking through the nose) was the chief defect.
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Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3614, 29 August 1912, Page 5
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165IMPERIAL ENGLISH. Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3614, 29 August 1912, Page 5
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