A Language Invasion - Or Is It?

I’ve been pondering this subject for quite some time and last night during a post rehearsal discussion, things really came to a head as I discussed pronunciation with the director:

ME: This is an Australian musical. We say half (h-AH-f) not haff. It really should be sung that way.

DIRECTOR: No, we sing ‘haff’. Look at so many of the the great Australian singers - they all head that way.

Now, like it or lump it, this is generally true (with the exception of Mr. Warlow and various others who will sing what is thoroughly ‘accent appropriate’ at all times).

....But how far into our lives and how quickly do we accept a changing pronunciation? What has to be the proportion of people using it before it becomes the accepted standard? One of the beauties of the English tongue is its ability to adapt and move with the times....but how fast should it move along? Or are we working during a time of ultra-hasty language transition due to globalisation?

I’m certainly not suggesting we set up a language authority akin to the L'Académie française where all language must be officially approved. At the same time, I’m receiving a groundswell of young actors walking into my studio throwing around their NOOZ (news) and WORI (worry) left, right and centre.

Do I simply throw my hands up in the air, defeated and admit that ‘yes, this is fine - I accept this shift in the language’ OR do I ‘correct’ them?

Is this ignorance, a generational dialect or a significant shift in our language?

At the moment I’m working on a case by case basis, depending on the context. I’ll inform the individual of the alternative pronunciation, and let them do the choosing in their day-to-day speech. All very P.C., I know. One must summon a great deal of self control to push the pronunciation police to the rear of my mind and stop them from screaming  “It’s N-Y-OOZ, not NOOZ”.

I hear constant critisism of the “Americanisation” of English, but you’ll hear the different pronunciations I’ve set out here in half a dozen British dialects....which begs the question: is what I’m addressing a new pop-culture accent? One that is accepted by many, understood and growing rapidly in use? Or is it a sign of a cultural cringe toward our own Australian accent and a yearning for a greater acceptance in the global marketplace?

In the case at hand, we were discussing pronunciation during singing so there are other factors to take into account: Do we want the twang of ‘æ’ (as in ‘apple’) or the open resonance of ‘aː’ (as in balm); Are we going stylistically Broadway?; Are we being consistent with the spoken text?

Whatever it is, if we understand it, if we have flexibility to use the alternative where appropriate  and the intention behind it is clear, does it really matter?

Surely as a Theatre Voice Coach it is not up to me to police or become guardian of the language, but to make sure it is reflected correctly within the context it is being used.

In 30 years time will I be telling actors “It’s NOOZ, not N-Y-OOZ”?