Klarinet Archive - Posting 000437.txt from 1994/10

From: John Blegen <blegen@-----.US>
Subj: Re: Chris Castillo's interesting on idea on language influence
Date: Sun, 30 Oct 1994 11:02:18 -0500

On Sat, 29 Oct 1994, Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.edu wrote:

>
> Besides, I speak French. So why don't I sound like Delecluse? Delecluse
spoke
> English. Why doesn't he sound like Stanley Drucker (or did he)?
>

Well, I'm definitely getting into an area that I know nothing about, but
Dan's argument is too tempting. I certainly have nowhere near the
knowledge to make any assertions about whether there are recognizable
national styles. I'm just happy that I can tell the difference between
DeFranco, Eddie Daniels, Bob Wilber, Ken Peplowsky, and Paquito D'Rivera
after hearing just a bar. This national style argument is way out of my
reach. However, lanuage is something else again. Here's my comment:
Dan's critique above isn't a fair test. I'm sure Dan's French is
wonderful (I know from his comments on this list that he lived in Paris
for a while), and I'm sure that Delecluse's English was equally wonderful
(although French speakers of English usually pay little attention to the
English sound system). BUT! There is a significant difference between
the mother tongue and a second (or third, fourth, or fifth) language,
particularly if one has learned the second language as an adult. The
only real test here would be to find excellent clarinetists who have been
bilingual from a very early age.

This discussion is really interesting but not very verifiable. One
recalls the work of psychologist-linguist Benjamin Whorf, who felt that
language determined culture (that's a pretty brutal summary of Whorf,
but, after all, this is e-mail). If I were to look for a connection
between language and music, I would probably look at rhythm rather than
at sound. This is very unscientific, but I've long felt that the reason
I can identify French-speaking drummer Daniel Humair is because I feel the
alexandrins!

Ok. Back to lurking. Go at it, people!

John
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John Blegen / Glenview Public Library / blegen@-----.us
1930 Glenview Rd. / Glenview, IL 60025 / (708) 729-7500, FAX 729-7682