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| Famous guitarists. Source: DeviantArt |
Focal Language of Guitarists
Chloe Guier
Language (spoken or written) is a universal aspect of different cultural groups, and it is constantly changing due to the evolution of culture (Gezon & Kottak, 66). Within a particular culture, there are separate groups that use varying words to describe their unique actions and ideas. One aspect of a language is focal language or focal vocabulary. It is a set of words and distinctions that are particularly important to certain groups within a culture, specifically groups that display a particular focus of experience or activity (Gezon & Kottak, 66). One group that utilizes focal language is guitar players, who must understand the different aspects of their instrument and the techniques, tools, and other materials necessary to play the guitar. Being a guitar player myself, I know that without the understanding of the many terms, it would be very difficult to know how to play the guitar.
To have a better understanding of the language used by guitarists, I have compiled a few of the most simplest terms a beginner guitarist should know. Knowing the anatomy of the instrument and understanding how it is used is one of the first things a beginner should learn. Below are two of the most important and easily-identified parts of a guitar.
- Frets: thin bars running vertically along the guitar neck that the guitarist can place their fingers on to shorten the length of the strings, in turn affecting the pitch of the instrument (Acoustic Guitar Anatomy).
- Body: the box of the guitar that the neck is attached to that the right hand can rest on while strumming. On an acoustic guitar, the body also acts as an amplifier for the guitar’s sound (Acoustic Guitar Anatomy).
Different hand positions, tools, and techniques allow the guitarist to make varying sounds, pitches, and tones on the guitar. Knowing these terms are essential to being able to play differing types of music.
- Chord: three or more notes sounded on the frets that create a more full-bodied sound compared to playing a single note (Glossary of Guitar Terms).
- Barre chord: similar to a chord, except adding the technique of laying your left pointer finger over at least two of the strings (Glossary of Guitar Terms).
- Capo: a tool that usually wraps around the neck of a guitar that is used to shorten the string length and manipulate the key or pitch of the guitar (Glossary of Guitar Terms).
- Slide: a tube (normally made of glass or plastic) that goes over the third or fourth finger of the left hand that “slides” up and down the fretboard while the guitarist simultaneously strums the guitar. Typically used by blues or jazz guitarists (Glossary of Guitar Terms).
- Tuner: a device used to tune the guitar so the guitarist knows their instrument is in the right key (Glossary of Guitar Terms).
- Hammer-on: a note created by first plucking a string or strings, then literally “hammering” down with a left finger on a particular fret and string (Glossary of Guitar Terms).
- Pull-off: the opposite of a hammer-on. Starts by having a left finger on a certain fret and string, then plucking a string and “pulling off” your finger from the fretboard (Glossary of Guitar Terms).
- Fingerstyle: strumming or picking the guitar strings with your fingers/fingernails rather than using a pick (Glossary of Guitar Terms).
- Strumming: can be used with a pick or your right hand.the act of brushing at least two strings in a rhythmic fashion (Glossary of Guitar Terms).
- Standard tuning: the general tuning of a guitar. The six strings are tuned EADGBE low to high (Glossary of Guitar Terms).
- Tablature: (tab) one of the ways of writing music for fretted instruments that displays a number or letter on lines representing the six strings, which indicates the frets that are being played (Glossary of Guitar Terms).
A language’s lexicon, or vocabulary, is constantly expanding and changing due to changes in culture (Gezon & Kottak, 66). Focal language is important to any group due to its individual ideas, actions, experiences, etc. because it gives meaning to words or phrases that can not be defined by the existing vocabulary of a certain language. In this case, focal language is important to guitarists because it defines certain words or actions that explains the different elements of a guitar and how to properly use them to play the instrument.
If you asked someone who has no knowledge of playing the guitar to give their definition of something commonly used by guitarists, such as a pick, he or she would most likely would think of the tool used to pierce or break up a material like clay or ice (Merriam-Webster). Whereas if you asked a guitarist what a pick was, he or she would tell you that it is a hand-held tool used to brush the strings of a guitar to make a sound. This proves the importance of focal language and identifies the differences between the outsiders and members of a certain group. You can determine whether or not someone is a part of a particular group if they understand the different words and distinctions used in a certain activity (Gezon & Kottak, 66) and are able to apply their knowledge to that activity.
Focal language is essential to groups such as guitarists, because without it there would be no way to define the unique terms that are important to the group’s area of focus. Without any new vocabulary to define specific actions of a group, individual groups would not be able to express their ideas efficiently, and their identity would not be as clear .
Works Cited
"Acoustic Guitar Anatomy." Acoustic Guitar for Beginners. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2015. <https://sites.google.com/site/acousticguitarforbeginners/acoustic-guitar-anatomy>.
"Definition of PICK." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2015. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pick>.
Gezon & Kottak. "Ch. 2: Culture." ANTH 101 Cultural Anthropology. 2nd ed. McGraw-Hill Education, 2014. 313. Print.
"Glossary of Guitar Terms." : Mel Bay. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2015. <http://www.melbay.com/pages/about/glossary_of_guitar_terms.aspx>
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| Natural Hair as advocated by As I Am Naturally |
Natural Hair of African American
Women Focal Language
Anette Swindle
Most recently
there has been more attention brought on to the growing community of African
American women who have chosen to wear their hair in its natural state. The
natural hair community has come up with words that help them to describe their
natural hair and their natural hair journey. Focal vocabulary is defined as a
set of words and distinctions that are particularly important to certain groups
(Gezon and Kottak 66). The natural hair community has a pretty large focal
vocabulary that helps one to explain the processes or what stage they are at in
their hair journey that they are going through to get their hair healthy and
natural. I have come up with ten terms that are constantly used in the natural
hair community:
1.
Transitioning- the process, where one's natural
hair is allowed to grow in, while the previously chemically manipulated hair is
trimmed off in stages.
2.
Clarifying- The process of cleansing the hair to
remove the build-up of oils, styling products, tap water minerals, and
medications from the hair.
3.
Big Chop- Cutting off all relaxed or heat
damaged portions of your hair, leaving only natural new growth.
4.
Shrinkage- A term used to describe the process
that occurs when wet hair dries and coils up into its natural texture pattern
and loses its visual length.
5.
Slip- is produced by a product, like
conditioner, where the fingers or a comb are able to easily and smoothly glide
through your hair from root to tip.
6.
Sealing- Applying a product or a natural oil to
the hair to help lock in moisture.
7.
Wash’n’go- a quick and easy styling process not
using twisting, braiding, knotting, or rodding to give your hair definition.
8.
Locking/locs- A hairstyle where small sections
of hair are twisted and the strands become permanently secured. This protective
hairstyle is very sanitary contrary to belief.
9.
Cowash- The practice of cleansing the hair using
a natural cleansing conditioner in place of a chemical enriched shampoo.
10. Dusting-
Trimming off a small amount of your hair.
11. Protective
Style- A hairstyle that helps protect the ends your hair from damage, by
shielding against environmental exposure and lessening you being able to
manipulate it with your hands.
(Gezon and Kottak 66; Glossary, 2012).
The importance
of focal vocabulary in the natural hair community is to help share one’s hair
journey with others who might be interested in beginning their own natural hair
journey. Because everyone’s hair is different, there are many different ways of
styling and managing one’s natural hair. This leads to modifications of the
different processes, such as with cowashing, which can then be shared
throughout the natural hair community. Sharing one’s own hair journey inspires
more women to start on their own journey of loving and caring for their natural
hair.
Outsiders, such
as Caucasians, do not understand the focal vocabulary of the natural hair
community because their natural hair is rarely seen in a negative light. Outsiders
of the natural hair community have the idea that many of the processes and
styles are unkempt or unsanitary. An example of this would be the stereotypes
that come with locs or dreads. Locking is a natural protective hairstyle that
is stereotypically associated with weed smokers or hippies. This negative
perception causes many African American women to hate their natural hair and
damage it so they end up with a more conventional hairstyle.
The focal vocabulary of the natural
hair community helps celebrate the natural beauty of African American woman of
today. The focal vocabulary keeps the natural hair community close and helps
the community to continue to grow. The focal vocabulary also gives the feeling
of having the community be exclusive and having the feeling of pride that comes
with the exclusivity. Society has been known to shed a negative light of
African American women’s natural hair. Therefore, the focal vocabulary helps
make the process of transitioning to natural an uplifting experience.
Work
Cited
Gezon,
Lisa, and Conrad Kottak. ANTH 101 Cultural Anthropology: Truckee
Meadows Community College. McGraw-Hill, 2014. 66. Print.
"Glossary." As
I Am Naturally. Salon Commodities, Ltd, 1 Jan. 2012. Web. 25 Feb. 2015.
<http://www.asiamnaturally.com/glossary.html>.
16 comments:
Thees guitar players remind me of a friend who goes to this college and he plays in a band. I also have an uncle that plays drums and has different key notes to play like as they call it as vocal language. This article made me think about my friends and my uncle since i know what they have to go through in order to get the right key note. My friend said he even had that crazy hair look since he was a rocker.
Briana Banuelos
Anth 102 1001
After reading this article it made me think of the complexity of just playing a guitar and simple things like hair. Its is interesting to think that everything has certain terms that we over look because its a part of our everyday life. Those terms become our focal language.
I enjoyed both papers. I only knew a few things about guitars, this paper has given me some more terms to remember. The second paper helped me out the best do to the fact I do hair all day. I don't work on African American women, so I didn't know what bone chop meant.
tammy mccusker
I really enjoyed both of these pieces. I love guitar and feel that it is really challenging to learn , so the writer's intro to guitar language I though was very cool. I can understand how the second writer feels like she is not allowed to wear her hair naturally, but this is true foe most women. If it is straight we want wavy, or if it's wavy we straighten it. I can't tell you how many women I know that damage their hair to be lighter, I myself have extensions so my hair is fuller and longer. The language aspect was new, and much like regular salon atmosphere just different lingo.
I believe the point that Anette was trying to make was in regards to African American women, who are pressured to be more like Caucasian women. This point was made when you watched the "Girl Like Me" video that featured the doll experiment.
It is interesting how you can know much about a person based on how they define a common word like the pick. It can tell about their hobby, profession, and many other things.
- Maya Quezada
never really understood how hard it is to play the guitar. ME personally I commend what stye do, it is so much more than just moving your fingers on a guitar
I knew a pretty good amount of guitar focal language but I was completely stumped on the hair styling language. Hopefully it'll give me a better insight to what my girlfriend might be talking about when she's doing her hair (if I ever get a girlfriend).
Thanks for the post!
Zachary Forrester
anthro 101 3001 summer
Being a person of musical illiteracy this was very interesting to read. Now I can identify what each term is and in conversation with many of my musically inclined friends I can actually understand rather than staring at them like a deer in headlights. It's amazing the vast amounts of insight gained through Anthropology.
The focal language used by African American women who are choosing to wear their hair naturally was really informative. I myself wear my hair natural and have never heard any of those words used accept for transitioning. Perhaps this is because I have always worn my hair in its natural state. It's funny how someone within the community of a focal language can be so out of the loop. I did however relate to the section in which she mentioned that natural hair has not always been accepted and it does take a lot of courage for most African American women to wear their natural hair.
Alexandreana Cocroft
Anthro 101 3001 Summer
Very unique take of language to look at it from the perspective of a guitarist, awesome read.
Jordan R
This post was interesting as I am not really a music playing person I just listen to it. I imagine it is definitely difficult to learn and it has a lot of sayings specific to it. It is also interesting how hair and style are sort of pushed on African American women to become normal in a sense. It is weird how we would base opinion just off of hair and style.
I've always wanted to learn how to play the guitar, but before reading this I didn't know anything besides the name. The other blog, the fact that I'm African American I know a lot about the "Natural State" of hair. I wear it that way every so often, it's healthy for your hair & helps it grow.
Aaliyah Caldwell
I enjoyed reading both pieces. I was more interested in the one about the hair language. I think focal language is very important. one example of this is a friend of mine who recently graduated college. she told me that she didn't get a specific job she wanted because she had a Mohawk instead of a typical woman hair style. I thought it was outrageous and a little bit of discrimination.
I agree with her very much on focal vocab among the natural hair community. All of these terms are terms that are used daily with women while dealing with our hair. This helps so much when knowing what you are dealing with. You can converse words with your family and friends about your hair by using terms that are meant for our hair. Many outsiders as well do think the way we take care of our hair is unsanitary or unmanageable like she mentioned like locs or fros.
The post does well in introducing readers to some of the key terms used by people with natural hair, such as "transitioning," "clarifying," and "protective styles." This gives readers a sense of the language that people who embrace their natural hair texture frequently use. The post emphasizes the cultural significance of these phrases by stating that the major vocabulary helps in communicating the experiences of African American women who wear natural hair. It emphasizes how, in underprivileged communities, language can be a tool for self-expression and togetherness.
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