MARGINALIA:

More on Radio Ceylon

K S Sivakumaran

We are happy to note that some of the listeners of Radio Ceylon then had sent their sentiments of remembering Lanka’s ace English broadcasters some 50 years ago. While most of them appreciated our column last week (July 6, 2010), some of them are quick to remind us some of the names we missed out in our effort to remember all the names that we could. One such name was Bob Harvey. Most of our correspondents were from long standing listeners in India.

Some of them were Saji Cumaraswamy (80), Robin Viegas, Victor Goonetilleke, and Lavie Louie.

Lavie Louie recommends that “the SLBC (Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation) locate and use tapes of jazz and spotlight programs presented by Bob Harvey in 1962. Other than Greg and Jimmy, I was familiar with barely half of the names of announcers and of course Livy.” He adds: “The notable omission is Bob Harvey who was on the regular panel announcers and then became a freelancer. He had a very unique style of presentation.”

We thank them all.

To borrow A Sivanandan’s title of a novel, When Memory Fails, yours truly is truly in that kind of situation. This columnist who is on his early 70s could not remember all names of the then English broadcasters instantaneously.

Talking of Bob Harvey - I remember him very well when this columnist was working for The Island newspaper where he was also working (not in the editorial though). He was a superb sports commentator and a presenter. In the 1950s when the Races were allowed there was another racing commentator Tony de Costa.

Some other names I recall are, Yusuf Noordeen, Lavanie, Dudley Weeraratne, Eric Fernando, Guy Bibile, Jerome de Silva, Winston de Valliere, Steve Morrel, Iranganie Goonasingha, Tissa Abeysekera, Roshan Abeysekera, Vernon Abeysekera, Richard de Soyza, Gamini Haththottuwegama, Sujatha Jayewardene, and Charmaine Jayawardnene. There may be more names that we could not now remember at this moment. Some of the above broadcasters were really not exactly continuity presenters but compilers and freelance broadcasters.

I wonder the SLBC has any record of its past broadcasters profiles for posterity or even recordings of some of their programs.

The SLBC’s English Service Library has a fine selection of Golden Discs of songs in English and a few other continental languages from the earlier times.

Most listeners of the older generation still tune to the SLBC’s English Service because it tries to maintain certain standards of broadcasting etiquette. Listeners in all parts of India, particularly in Delhi, Norida, Kolcutta, Mumbai, Goa, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Chennai write regularly to their favourite presenters over the All Asia Service of the SLBC (now known as Sri Lanka Radio).

The reason is that the presenters avoid imitating the foreign presenters (particularly the U.S. MTV, and the Indian English music Channels) in their manner of presentation, their use of acceptable British pronunciation, clarity of speech and enunciation et al.

Most young people don’t seem to know the difference between ‘accent’ and correct pronunciation. If one speaks with the right pronunciation, they think that the speaker has an accent, which is ridiculous. That’s why they imitate alien accent

And believe that they are best communicators as broadcasters. Telescoping of words and uttering at nerve racking speed result in poor understanding of the basics of broadcasting.

Remember in good speech there is no accent but clear and correct enunciation of words syllabically.

That is why most learned people used to listen to clear speeches keep tuned to one of the pioneer radio stations in Asia Radio Ceylon.

It is a pity that the English Service is yet to be revamped with the regained stamp of quality without imitating some of the private stations catering to youngsters aping blindly the western style of globalization. Hope amends are not delayed.

This columnist had had the experience of listening to different radio channels in the U.S., particularly the Public broadcasting System, and found that the broadcasters do not shout at the top of their voices and ‘punch’ at inappropriate places like most of our teenagers sound over the different airwaves of the country.

sivakumaran.ks @gmail.com