The Washington herald., 1922-09-10
PERFECT DICTION
NEEDED, If RADIO
REMAINS POPULAR
Frank La Forge, Music
Authority, Points to Need
OF Language Study.

Frank La Forge, pianist, COM
poser, accompanist and coach to
many famous singers. including
Schumann- Heink, Gadsky, Sembrlch
and others, believes that radio
broadcasting is emphasizing the i'm
portance OF proper diction In speech
and song. His opinions are report
ed Interestingly by Maurice Henle,
writing in the current issue of the
Wireless Age.
Whether or not the radio tele-
phone will be successful in the long
run" Mr.. La Forge told Mr.. Henle,
depends upon the study Of Lam
guage. Specifically l mean the at
tainment of proper diction by those
who broadcast.
Diction Ii Important.
when we have a concert or an
opera or a musical comedy, or any
entertainment where the one who
entertains Is visible to the audi
ence, proper voice cultivation is not
by any means the only point OF i'm
portance. The audience can see the
singer, il can see the action, but In
a large measure the American audi
ence has not placed great amount
of Importance on the words OF the
song. In the case of the radio tele-
phone, however, everything except
the actual voice Is eliminated and
for that reason it is highly neces-
sary. in order to give the audience
the pleasure il expects, for the
singer to have proper diction, in or
der that every syllable may be made
audible.
I'm fact. faulty diction is gen.
eral not only among the entertain
ers. but is common throughout our
country in every walk of life. The
next time someone telephones, listen
a little more sharply than usual and
discover for yourself how clumsily
the speaker on the other end slides
over important consonants. Nowels
Invariably are easy to be UNDER
stood. but when it comes to pro-
nouncing consonants clearly. Amer
ican people fail.
Must Hold Interest.
lHltSS Int dillSlS W hO SlhS oNSi
radio are experts in the art OF
proper diction. audiences Will soon
tire of hearing them. And there is
nothing that the audience can do
about it,"
The pianist. as in the case OF
other artists, has studied and played
many years in European cities. He
thinks that Europeans will enjoy
81 n
iy than Americans when the new
science finally is introduced over
there in a big way.
This" he said. "is because the
European operagoer insists upon
knowing what 1t is all about. He
will hungrily listen to every word
of the action of the opera. He does
not want to miss anything. and If
he cannot understand the words of
an aria he is peeved to a degree of
which we have no conception.
European singers Careful.
This has made the European
singers careful. The singer over
there realizes he will quickly fall
into disfavor unless his diction is
perfect. unless every syllable is un-
derstandab BILE.
Not so over here. How many
attending an opera here understand
the words? Not many. Nor do the
people seem to care. They appear
to be satisfied with reading the plot
of the opera in libretto. in listening
to the voice, admiring the gorgeous
costumes and scenery and watching
the action.
"To the radio fans let me get on
record as saying that I consider
diction one of the most important
factors that wiu rnntribute to the
ultimate success OF the radio tele-
phone. Just you watch"