1744 Confusing Language
Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2003 10:58:27 -0500
From: "Frank G. Williams" <frankw@MAIL.AHC.UMN.EDU>
Subject: Confusing Language
Friends,
First, things first. -- JUST PRACTICE!
Second, this card-carrying neuroscientist has used the term "muscle memory"
for years.
>>Your rambling, vague, confusing explanation of "muscle memory" illustrates
very well the problems I find with the term and why I think it should be
replaced by language that is used by those who study the brain, body, and
movement and which has clear referents and well defined usage.<<
Based on our current (though still limited) understanding of the molecular
and cellular changes in hippocampal neurons that account for "memory", the
term "muscle memory" makes perfect sense! Oh sure, you could replace
'muscle' with 'motor', but then (by improving the term) nobody would know
what you mean.
The didactic demands for teaching tango are SO broad. Most people need help
to learn what dance IS and how to engage their artistic sensibilities in
improvised movement. If they can learn to improvise per se, then tango is
much more accessible. However, the demands of making 'clean' or ideal
movements antagonizes the 'carelessness' that helps improvisation, and those
two elements must be synthesized into one package. Clean things up in
"muscle memory", though, and the rest of our inadequate brains are free to
play with the music!
Happy muscle memories to all ;-)
Frank - Mpls.
Frank G. Williams, Ph.D.
University of Minnesota
612-625-6441
Department of Neuroscience
6-145 Jackson Hall
321 Church Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Department of Veterinary Pathobiology
205 Veterinary Science
1971 Commonwealth Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55108
Date: Sun, 14 May 2006 12:16:42 -0700
From: "Evan Wallace" <evan@tangoing.com>
Subject: [Tango-L] Language
To: <tango-l@mit.edu>
On May 10, Ming Mar wrote:
When used by tango teachers from Argentina, "energy"
means tensing the muscles.
On May 10 Michael Figart II wrote:
"Energy" is not tensing the muscles. The way I look at
it, the term "energy" is generally used in reference
to a highly focused connection.
The question is, said Alice, whether you can make words mean so many
different things. When words like energy, or axis, or whatever, are used
vaguely and incorrectly, then their definitions may be taken to be whatever
the speaker chooses them to be, and they cease to have any meaning whatever,
and we end up in arguments that never converge ("Energy is tensing the
muscles. No it isn't! Yes it is! ...")
Terms like energy already have EXACT meanings. Teachers should take the time
to learn them, and learn them correctly. Neither definition above is even
remotely correct enough to have unambiguous meaning, and hence they have
limited value as teaching tools. If experienced dancers can't get within 180
degrees of the same answer, what is a beginner to do?
Evan Wallace
Tangoing.com
evan@tangoing.com
www.tangoing.com
Date: Sun, 14 May 2006 20:33:21 GMT
From: "dubrovay@juno.com" <dubrovay@juno.com>
Subject: [Tango-L] Fw: Language
To: tango-l@mit.edu
More about:
Axis
The spotted deer (Cervus axis or Axis maculata) of India, where it is called hog deer and parrah (Moorish name).
A straight line, real or imaginary, passing through a body, on which it revolves, or may be supposed to revolve; a line passing through a body or system around which the parts are symmetrically arranged.
A straight line with respect to which the different parts of a magnitude are symmetrically arranged; as, the axis of a cylinder, i. e., the axis of a cone, that is, the straight line joining the vertex and the center of the base; the axis of a circle, any straight line passing through the center.
The stem; the central part, or longitudinal support, on which organs or parts are arranged; the central line of any body.
The second vertebra of the neck, or vertebra dentata.
Also used of the body only of the vertebra, which is prolonged anteriorly within the foramen of the first vertebra or atlas, so as to form the odontoid process or peg which serves as a pivot for the atlas and head to turn upon.
One of several imaginary lines, assumed in describing the position of the planes by which a crystal is bounded.
The primary or secondary central line of any design.
Elemer in Redmond.
---------- Forwarded Message ----------
On May 10, Ming Mar wrote:
When used by tango teachers from Argentina, "energy"
means tensing the muscles.
On May 10 Michael Figart II wrote:
"Energy" is not tensing the muscles. The way I look at
it, the term "energy" is generally used in reference
to a highly focused connection.
The question is, said Alice, whether you can make words mean so many
different things. When words like energy, or axis, or whatever, are used
vaguely and incorrectly, then their definitions may be taken to be whatever
the speaker chooses them to be, and they cease to have any meaning whatever,
and we end up in arguments that never converge ("Energy is tensing the
muscles. No it isn't! Yes it is! ...")
Terms like energy already have EXACT meanings. Teachers should take the time
to learn them, and learn them correctly. Neither definition above is even
remotely correct enough to have unambiguous meaning, and hence they have
limited value as teaching tools. If experienced dancers can't get within 180
degrees of the same answer, what is a beginner to do?
Evan Wallace
Tangoing.com
evan@tangoing.com
www.tangoing.com
Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 13:11:28 +1000
From: Gary Barnes <garybarn@OZEMAIL.COM.AU>
Subject: Re: [Tango-L] Language
To: Tango-l <TANGO-L@MITVMA.MIT.EDU>
On 15/05/2006, at 5:16 AM, Evan apparently wrote:
>
> Terms like energy already have EXACT meanings. Teachers should take
> the time
> to learn them, and learn them correctly.
This is not true. Words do not have precise, universal meanings.
They may have a precise meaning within a particular context, eg
'energy' in physics.
But when an ordinary person on the street uses 'energy', they may mean
a number of things. They may mean something like the physic usage -
capacity to do work, or they may mean something more akin to effort,
or focus. But sometimes, it is used on a different plane of meaning,
eg: 'Energy is a term used to describe variations in emotional and
physical stamina and motivation.'
The use of rich, symbolic - but ambiguous - language in teaching
(non-engineering subjects) is a powerful tool, and does not depend on
precise meanings. The imagery _is_ the tool.
IF a teacher wants a word to have a particularly precise meaning, then
they must define it to their students.
For students who want precise meanings, it is important that the
teacher is able to define precisely those things which are important in
the class - but it is also vital that they are not drawn into a
semantic argument when it is irrelevant to the lesson. This requires
considerable strength of character from the teacher!
BTW I am a word fusspot, and I don't like words being misused. However,
languages are not made out of definitions, they are made out of usages.
For those of you who are driven mad by people using words in their
common senses, rather than a specific science definition - chill out,
and try to hear beyond the word to the concept. Or, find another
teacher, one who speaks your specific language well. But also try to
accept that to many other people, perhaps most, this use of language is
not an obstacle to learning, and may be an advantage.
Gary
Date: Sun, 28 May 2006 23:26 +0100 (BST)
From: "Chris, UK" <tl2@chrisjj.com>
Subject: Re: [Tango-L] Language
Cc: tl2@chrisjj.com
Evan Wallace wrote:
> Terms like energy already have EXACT meanings. Teachers should take
> the time to learn them, and learn them correctly. Neither definition
> above is even remotely correct...
Strange, isn't it, that whenever someone pops up claiming there is an
EXACT correct answer to some tango issue and all the answers prevously
presented are wrong, that person never actually says what the EXACT
correct answer is... ;)
Chris
-------- Original Message --------
*Subject:* [Tango-L] Language
*From:* "Evan Wallace" <evan@tangoing.com>
*To:* <tango-l@mit.edu>
*Date:* Sun, 14 May 2006 12:16:42 -0700
On May 10, Ming Mar wrote:
When used by tango teachers from Argentina, "energy"
means tensing the muscles.
On May 10 Michael Figart II wrote:
"Energy" is not tensing the muscles. The way I look at
it, the term "energy" is generally used in reference
to a highly focused connection.
The question is, said Alice, whether you can make words mean so many
different things. When words like energy, or axis, or whatever, are used
vaguely and incorrectly, then their definitions may be taken to be whatever
the speaker chooses them to be, and they cease to have any meaning whatever,
and we end up in arguments that never converge ("Energy is tensing the
muscles. No it isn't! Yes it is! ...")
Terms like energy already have EXACT meanings. Teachers should take the time
to learn them, and learn them correctly. Neither definition above is even
remotely correct enough to have unambiguous meaning, and hence they have
limited value as teaching tools. If experienced dancers can't get within 180
degrees of the same answer, what is a beginner to do?
Evan Wallace
Tangoing.com
evan@tangoing.com
www.tangoing.com
