Evening star., 1936-03-16
'GOodDiction
And Proper
Articulation
Answer to Readers
Challenge and
Questions.
BY EMILY POST.

"DEAR MRS. POST: Don't you
think that you are sometimes un-
reasonable in your criticisms Of pro-
nunciation? I noticed that you often
say 'eether' instead Of 'aither,' and
not long ago you said Idea And
then you criticize 'darter' and say
it should be 'dawter,' and that foreign
Is not fourn' but far-ren.' And 7
have caught more than one split in
finitive in your column! Do you
think these compatible with your
authority? Will you please explain
why you are so severe about one detail
Of speech and so lax about another?"
Answer-The questions, why is A
right?" Why is B tolerated." and
why is c tabu?'-in short, the sepa-
ration of rules that are important
from those that are unimportant-is
the most interesting aspect of the en-
tire subject of good taste, especially
when the reasons for approval or dis
approval are as illuSive as those which
determine the social position of words
and their pronunciation. But, in
answer to your criticism, I'm glad it
is no worse. I'm sure must say
many things to which readers take
exception. But about these which you
have mentioned: Transposing the awe
and ah sounds, making daughter
darter, and then making foreign
fouren, are both bad because the
really cultivated New Englanders and
Westerners say daughter and fah-ren,
whereas those who are F. F. VS. in
the South all say Idea. l agree that
Idea is better. Personally, like the
ee sound in certain words better than
the al sound. q truly don't know
which I say; I probably mix them as
all people do who have lived in diff
ferent sections of the country) But
while agree that most people prefer
al, ee is not incorrect. AS to split
infinitives: Don't you read Henry
James? The pages of that great mas
ter of English are peppered with
themD I'D probably split my in
finitives anyway but it was pleasant
of him to lead the wayD
X X X X
Dear Mrs. Post: I notice that you
constantly speak of men and girls,
and cannot understand how this
can be tolerated by you. Usually I
agree with you thoroughly and your
voice on the air is one that I never
miss hearing if can help it. But
won't you please stop saying men and
girls and say men and women or boys
and girls (if you mean children) in
stead?"
Answer-I am more than sorry, but,
according to purely social tradition,
women" are middle-aged. Young
women" are married or else in business.
Il never say business girls.) On the
other hand, could not write of
debutantes as young women because
it would change the picture from a
social one to business hours in an
Office. Girls and men" have for gen.
erations danced at balls and gone to
parties in the fashionable world.
Dear Mrs. Post: When a man pays
a young woman's subway or trolley
fare, should she pay him back and
thank him?
Answer-If she has been invited to
go out with him he, of course, pays
her fare and she does not thank him.
But if she has by chance encountered
a man she knows, who drops S cents
for her to go through the turnstile,
she probably offers him her cents
after she is through the gate. He
takes it if he chooses. or he refuses.
In the latter case she says Thank
you"
Dear Mrs. Post: My fiance and I
have argued about a situation which
comes up often, and I've decided to
write you. He has agreed to let you
be arbiter. When leaving a street
car or bus should he lead the way to
the front of the car Cor bus) or should
he let me go first as far as the door
and then go ahead to help me off?
Answer-This depends upon whether
the car is crowded. If it is, he prob
ably wedges the way for you. If car
is clear, you go first, and at the door
you let him get off first and then
help you.
(Copyright l936)