CORRECT SPEECH | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Nov 4, 1880

CORRECT SPEECH.

PERHAPS there is nothing that more fully indicates the true lady and gentleman than the habitual use of pure and correct language. Those who would appear genteel in society, should cultivate good English in conversation. Unclean speech is in keeping with a smutty face, unclean hands, and soiled clothes. It is wonderful how easy and almost imperceptibly one glides into a careless and vulgar way of talking. And that, too, by those who are familiar with the rules of grammar, and in writing exercise good orthography and syntax, and use pure and chaste words. Yet in conversation, through neglect, they use improper language in a confused and desultory manner.

Early culture and association with refined society, are essential to the attainment of this accomplishment, but if one has been unfortunately deprived of these, much may be gained by carefully watching his own words and manner of speech, until he contracts the habit of correct speech, of using his mother tongue in sound and accurate language. Nothing so strongly marks one's bearing in society as his speech. No matter how admirably he is attired, his grade in good and refined society will be guaged by his speech.