The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-03-23
Tod az Science
BY DAVID DIETZ

ONLY two students out Of 200 given speech tests
~ in recent years at Teachers College of Column
ba University received perfect scores
That percentage-one out of 100-is the usual
average among college graduates throughout the
United States according to DR.. Elizabeth D. Mellow
ell associate professor of speech at Teachers Col
lege, who is in charge of the test.
The examination is given to all candidates for stu
dent teachers Almost all school boards throughout
the country require that prospective teachers pass
such examination.
The examination is given to all candidates for
student teachers Almost all school boards through
out the country require that prospective teachers
pass such an examination
The printed form used by the judges in the Teach
ers College examination lists virtues Of speech IN
one column and vices in another Those who got
perfect adjudged the possessors of all Of
the following desirable qualities
Audible, clear pleasant, resonant and rich, Wig
orous, flexible and free, well-modulated appropriate
in melody, accurate in phrasing, appropriate In
tempo appropriate in general pitch level ineligible,
and acceptable in pronunciation.
The other SO out of every 100, according to DR..
Mcdowell suffer from one or of the following
defects of voice or speech:
Inaudble husky hoarse, breathy, mufhed noisy,
harsh affected, fiat, thin, hollow, colorless, weak,
tense, trenulous strident cultural nasal denasal-
lied, gottal, whining aggressive, Sereotyped, mo-
notonous, patronizing dctatoria erky phrasing too
short phrasing too long phrasing too slow, scan
ming tempo, too rapid too high pitch, too low pitch,
unintellgible, indistinct and jumbled unacceptable
in pronunciation.
Persons in general unaware of the defects in
their speech, Dr. Mcdowell says.
ct is a Well-establshed physiological fact that
person can not hear his voice as others hear 1t.
The conduction of sound through the bones of his
head well other factors alter it greatly for his
own ears" she explains
THE hopeful side of the case, however, is that an
l. astonishing amount of improvement can be
obtained in most cases within a week or two, DR..
Mcdowell says. Once the student recognizes his
ma jor faults they be mininlized fairly quickly.
Further improvement and eventual per1ectlon
come more slowly, however she says The prob
lem is like learning 10 sing. 1t requires individual
instruction and plenty of practice"
Teachers and prospective teachers are willing to
undergo this training just singer is because their
Jobs depend upon it. But DR.. Mcdowell thinks it
would be wise for persons in other walks Of life
likewise to pay more attention to the qualities Of
their speech
THE chief difficulty met with in students at Teach
i ers' College grows out of inability to make prop
use of vocal energy, DR.. Mcdowell says. The
students develop husky voice or get speakers
throat when they attempt to conduct class for
hour or more. Another frequent difficulty is that
they not make themselves heard throughout the
the classroom without strainng their voices
Other defects frequently met with include
harsh nasal tone, tense querulous voice pattern,
sectional racial dialect habit Of speaking too
fast to be understood, or 81 slow to be irritating
and the habit Of speaking with jerky, explosive. ir
ritating, stress pattern.
When a student shows consistent mispronuncia-
ton of vowel sounds, sometimes happens, DR.. Nc
Doweu sends the student to physician for an ex-
animation Of his hearing.
1T is surprising to find how many educated peo-
pie have hearing difficulties Of which they are not
aware she said.