Sir, - I am always struck by the extreme sensitivity of readers to matters of pronunciation and, more particularly, the frequent over-reaction which accompanies any criticism thereof.
Having read of Victor Feldman's seemingly mild irritation at some RT╔ presenters' pronunciation - or rather non- pronunciation - of "th", as in "Arsenal four, Chelsea tree" (November 16th), I was, however, still surprised at Paraic O'Donnell's characterisation of it (November 20) as an "excoriation of RT╔ presenters [marking] a new nadir of facile snobbishness".
Mr O'Donnell supports this particular pronunciation on two grounds. First, he says the "th" sound is not present in some dialects of Irish English. I assume by this he means that the broadcasters in question simply are unable to articulate the word "three", much the same way as English broadcasters struggle to pronounce "taoiseach", and I am signally unable to roll my "r"s when I try to speak Spanish. Incidentally, I wince when I hear "Teeshock" and I do wish I could roll my "r"s, even modestly.
Second, he states, quite correctly, that modern linguistics eschews any concept of "correct" pronunciation. Whatever about that, clearly teachers of English as a foreign language, as well as teachers of speech and drama or elocution, are required to make some determination as to what is or is not "correct" English for teaching purposes. Quite aside from that, I really don't see why they or anyone should be labelled a snob simply because they have views on the matter which they choose to voice.
In any event Mr O'Donnell seems to ignore the fact that to pronounce the words "three" and "tree" equally is "incorrect" in so far as they are spelled differently and mean quite different things.
The difficulty with determining what is "correct" pronunciation is that it is really a matter of making oneself understood by as many people as possible, coupled with personal taste. People often use "correct" English as a means of excluding people; clearly this is wrong.
Would it be an improvement to criticise pronunciation as "ugly" or "unpleasant" rather than "incorrect"? I don't think it is "facile snobbishness" to praise what is pleasant to the ear and criticise what grates and I think most people recognise a pleasant voice when they hear one.
Certainly this in no way militates against regional accents or "dialects of Irish English" as Mr O'Donnell puts it. One has only to listen to any broadcast by Micheβl ╙ Muircheartaigh on RT╔ to hear how beautifully "correct" English can sound. - Yours, etc.,
Ian Kavanagh, Clontarf, Dublin 3.