[Ads-l] Query concerning the removal of "French" from "French horn" (2nd try)

[Geoffrey Steven Nathan]

It's always been my understanding that professional 'horn' players preferred the unqualified term, while others ('civilians') preferred 'French Horn'. But that's totally impressionistic. This query from the STLSO contradicts that, I guess. 

I do recall a discussion several years ago about whether members of professional orchestras preferred to be called 'players' or 'musicians'. That actually became an issue during the Detroit Symphony Orchestra strike a few years ago, which I was (peripherally) drawn into--VERY long story. 

Geoff 

Geoffrey S. Nathan 
Faculty Liaison, C&IT 
and Professor, Linguistics Program 
http://blogs.wayne.edu/proftech/ 
+1 (313) 577-1259 (C&IT) 

Nobody at Wayne State will EVER ask you for your password. Never send it to anyone in an email, no matter how authentic the email looks. 

----- Original Message -----

> From: "Gerald Leonard Cohen" <gcohen at MST.EDU>
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2015 8:31:58 PM
> Subject: Re: Query concerning the removal of "French" from "French
> horn" (2nd try)

> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> -----------------------
> Sender: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster: "Cohen, Gerald Leonard" <gcohen at MST.EDU>
> Subject: Re: Query concerning the removal of "French" from "French
> horn"
> (2nd try)
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

> My first attempt a few minutes ago turned up as gibberish on my
> computer; h=
> ere's a second try:

> ---

> Yesterday I received a query from a musician in the St. Louis
> Symphony wond=
> ering if the effort of the International Horn Society to remove
> "French" fr=
> om "French horn" has any chance of success (answer: probably not) and
> wheth=
> er I'm aware of any other attempts to change language (vernacular) by
> a pre=
> scriptive decree or strong recommendation.

> The latter question is particularly interesting. Would any of you
> have exam=
> ples of vernacular speech being changed by decree/recommendation?

> Below my signoff is the message I received, presented here with
> permission.

> Gerald Cohen

> P.S. In a follow-up message Mr. Kaza sent me the exact wording
> pertaining t=
> o his society's position on the term "French horn":
> "The International Horn Society recommends that HORN be recognized as
> the c=
> orrect name for our instrument in the English language." --- [From
> the Minu=
> tes of the First General Meeting, June 15, 1971, Tallahassee,
> Florida, USA]

> ________________________________
> From: Roger Kaza [kazawolf at gmail.com<mailto:kazawolf at gmail.com>]
> Sent: Monday, June 22, 2015 10:23 AM
> To: Cohen, Gerald Leonard
> Subject: Question from local musician

> Dear Dr. Cohen,

> <snip> I am a local classical musician doing some research on the
> name of m=
> y instrument, and wondered if you might have a minute to point me in
> the ri=
> ght direction.

> The problem is, my instrument has two names in English: either
> "French horn=
> ," or just "horn." Almost everywhere else in the world it is known by
> one n=
> ame, corresponding to horn...corno in Italian, cor in French, horn in
> Germa=
> n, etc. However, the prefix "French" horn was used in England as far
> back a=
> s the 1600s, for various historical reasons which are well-known.
> Today, fo=
> r most people who speak English, it is a much more specific
> unambiguous ter=
> m than the generic "horn" which is often use to describe any wind
> instrumen=
> t or a jazz band "horn" section.

> In 1971 the newly-formed International Horn Society decreed that
> "horn" sho=
> uld be the official name for our instrument in the English language,
> and th=
> ose of us who play it should presumably educate everyone else.
> However, sin=
> ce that time, nothing has changed, and it is still referred to both
> ways pr=
> obably as much as it ever was. Generally, high-culture publications
> (progra=
> ms, reviews, orchestra rosters, CDs etc) use "horn" and everyone else
> uses =
> "French horn." Most dictionaries acknowledge both; Oxford calls
> "horn" shor=
> t for "French horn."

> My question is this. I am writing a semi-scholarly article for our
> organiza=
> tion's trade journal, The Horn Call, to explore the issue. I was
> wondering =
> if you could direct me towards any papers, articles or books which
> examine =
> attempts to blot out vernacular usage of a particular word, and
> whether or =
> not this is ever successful, or can be successful. Or any other
> insights yo=
> u may have on this issue! I thank you in advance for your help, and
> can off=
> er you free symphony tickets if you like that sort of thing!

> Kindest regards,

> Roger Kaza
> Principal Horn
> St. Louis Symphony

> ------------------------------------------------------------
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