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only to the ignorance or affectation of the speaker.’’ The 
wretched elocution and silly pronunciation of certain actors was 
held up to ridicule, and the affectation and lisping drawl of some 
of the clergy were severely criticised. 
As speech is the glory and privilege of man, being not only 
the great dividing line between man and the animal world, but 
exalting himself far above it, conferrmg upon him indeed a kind 
of immortality; so a pure and correct enunciation of that speech 
becomes not only his duty, but should be his pride and glory also ; 
exalting him above those of his fellows who neglect it, and 
giving his words a power and value over and above the mere 
meaning of the words themselves. It would be difficult to say 
how much of the appreciation accorded to Mr. George Milner’s 
address to the Club at the opening of the session was due—on 
the one hand—to his subject, and his fine literary treatment 
of it; and how much was due—on the other hand—to his 
eraceful utterance and pure and distinct pronunciation. A 
correct habit of pronunciation should be sought after and acquired 
by all. It does not require a musical voice, but by its aid the 
most harsh and disagreeable voice may triumph over the sweetest 
and most resonant. 
Articulation, i.e., the full, distinct and correct sounding of . 
every syllabie in a word; and accentuation, i.e., laying the 
accent on the proper syllable of the word, constitute the primary 
features of good pronunciation. The correct articulation of the 
vowel sounds is especially important, giving breadth and dignity 
to the speech, and forming the best safeguard against every kind 
of provincialism and cockneyism, as the case may be; for while 
the provincials pervert the vowel sounds by substituting O’s for 
A’s, &c., making a greater mouthful of the word ; the cockneys 
either chop them off short, or convert them into a listless drawl. 
Instances were then given of false prounciations heard at 
some of the meetings of the Club. 
The last phase of false pronunciation noticed was that arising 
from vulgar affectation. What motive could induce “ bred and 
born Lancashire men” to adopt an effeminacy of speech belong- 
ing essentially to the Dundrearys of the South ? 
“‘ Failings that are due to local influences acting upon us 
daily, we can excuse ; an occasional dropping of H’s, or even of 
crowding them in where they are not wanted, is especially a 
Lancashire man’s privilege; indeed a man of sympathetic dis- 
position coming daily in contact with illiterate people, can hardly 
avoid this little weakness, however careful he may desire to be ; 
but for all the rest, I say ‘ Reform it altogether.’ ”’ 
re Ae mS oe he ee 
