We got into a deep discussion on the right way of draining a flat roof. “Come here”, said he, at last. “Look up there, and you’ll see a goat of mine running all round the open space!”
“Goat!” I exclaimed; “it’ll fall!”
“Nonsense”, he said, “not unless lightning strikes it. Firm as a rock! Now, isn’t that the right sort of goat to carry the water off?”
He thought he had said goot in Dutch!
Well now, Jack’s beyond that. Who had been coaching him?
A HAS A BROAD SOUND.
Naturally I turned up Boyton on pronunciation the very first thing at home—and the mystery was solved! I was amazed. Boyton excels in teaching the sounds. Here is an extract or two from his
REMARKS ON THE DUTCH PRONUNCIATION.
| A | has a broader sound than in English, bal. |
| A A | has a broader sound, aal. |
| A A U | sounds broad, as in graauwen, to snarl. |
| E U | is described as resembling eu in Europe. For the falsity thereof, let the word be pronounced by a Native, and the Mistake will be felt. |
| G | is a guttural letter difficult to an Englishman; it can only be acquired by hearing it from a Civilized Native, e.g. gierig and gijzelen. |
| U U | No Englishman can emit this sound. It may be well heard in vuur (fire) and in guur. Consult a Dutch Instructor. |
| E I | This sound is beyond the powers of the unassisted English Organs of Speech. It must first be heard from an educated Hollander. |
| U I | It is improper to make this identical with oy as in boy; the native pronunciation must be followed. |
There you have some of the Rules! They won’t lead you far wrong, in any case. Then, to crown all, for fear the diligent reader wouldn’t have caught the point yet, Boyton goes back to his favourite “Doctrine of the Native.” Here it is: