masaryk university brno

62 Pages·2016·1.29 MB·English

MASARYK UNIVERSITY BRNO
FACULTY OF EDUCATION

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE

English terminology of classical and rock guitar music:
an analysis

Bachelor thesis

Brno 2016

Supervisor: Author:
Mgr. Radek Vogel, Ph.D. Stanislav Kubín
Prohlášení
Prohlašuji, že jsem závěrečnou práci bakalářskou práci vypracoval samostatně, s využitím
pouze citovaných pramenů, dalších informací a zdrojů v souladu s Disciplinárním řádem pro
studenty Pedagogické fakulty Masarykovy univerzity a se zákonem č. 121/2000 Sb., o právu
autorském, o právech souvisejících s právem autorským a o změně některých zákonů
(autorský zákon), ve znění pozdějších předpisů.

Brno, 30.listopadu 2016 ..................................................
Stanislav Kubín
Acknowledgement
I would like to thank my supervisor Mgr. Radek Vogel, Ph.D. for his much valued advice,
encouragement and patience.
Stanislav Kubín
Anotace:
Tato práce pojednává o terminologii kytarové hry. Zabývá se jak klasickou tak elektrickou
kytarou. Shromažďuje nejužívanější fráze pro jednotlivé techniky hry a srovnává je s jejich
českými ekvivalenty. Cílem není pouze analyzovat rozdíly mezi českou a anglickou
frazeologií, ale také popsat spojení mezi označením a praktickým provedením konkrétních
technik. Různé fráze užívané pro oba druhy nástroje jsou porovnávány a rovněž je zkoumán
jejich původ.

Klíčová slova:
lexikon, lexikální jednotka, fráze, denotace, konotace, význam, slovní druh, kytarová
technika, ekvivalent, antonymum, synonymum

Abstract:
This thesis deals with the terminology of playing the guitar. It refers to both classical and
electric form of the instrument. The most common phrases used for playing techniques are
identified and compared to the terms used in Czech language. The aim is not only to analyze
the differences between the Czech and English phraseology but also to describe the
connection between the denotation and execution of the techniques. The thesis also compares
different phrases used for each kind of instrument and traces the origins of the phrases as well
as of the individual words.

Key words:
lexicon, lexeme, phrase, denotation, connotation, meaning, word class, guitar technique,
equivalent, antonym, synonym
List of Contents
1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 6
2 Theoretical Part ................................................................................................................... 7
2.1 Lexicon ........................................................................................................................ 7
2.2 Theoretical background ............................................................................................... 8
2.3 Definitions of main terms – Classical guitar ............................................................. 11
2.4 Definitions of main terms – Rock guitar ................................................................... 14
2.5 Definitions of main terms – Common terms ............................................................. 18
3 Practical part ..................................................................................................................... 22
3.1 Classical guitar .......................................................................................................... 22
3.2 Classical guitar terms – analysis ................................................................................ 28
3.3 Rock Guitar ................................................................................................................ 30
3.4 Rock guitar terms – analysis ...................................................................................... 37
3.5 Common Terms ......................................................................................................... 39
3.6 Common terms – analysis .......................................................................................... 46
3.7 Glossary of terms – Classical guitar .......................................................................... 48
4 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................ 53
Works Cited .............................................................................................................................. 54
Appendices ............................................................................................................................... 58
1 Introduction
Guitar is one of the most popular and versatile musical instruments. It can be heard in
any genre from folk and country music through popular, jazz and rock music to classical
music itself. I have been working as a teacher of music – playing the guitar to be more precise
– for approximately ten years now. I want to connect the knowledge gathered in the field of
playing and teaching the instrument to the field of my current studies – English language.
This thesis is focused on denotations of guitar techniques and their usage – it deals
with the guitar music in the sense of playing the instrument, not in the sense of the music
itself. The denotations and phrases are divided into two groups according to the kind of the
guitar they are related to: the classical (Spanish) guitar at one end and the electric (rock)
guitar at the other. The origin and character of the phrases is discussed. Special attention is
paid to the accuracy (or differences) between the execution of the technique itself and the
meaning of its denotation in the respective language. One of the aims of this thesis is to
determine in which language the denotations are more precise and understandable.
The theoretical part deals with lexicology in general and describes tools and
viewpoints used in the thesis. It also lists the denotations that are discussed and analyzed in
the practical part. The practical part describes techniques used while playing classical and
rock guitar comparing their Czech and English equivalents. Some basic phrases and words
concerning theory of music and music in general are added in order to make the text more
understandable and relevant to the topic. According to my knowledge there is a dictionary
related to the lexicon of music in general but there is none considering guitar techniques as a
separate subject. There is an English-Czech glossary of terms concerning classical guitar
included at the end of the practical part.
Nowadays almost all international guitar courses are performed in English language
that is why the information may be useful not only for students of English language but for
guitar players as well. The thesis can be used as a source of new vocabulary as well as a
useful tool for improving communication during guitar courses and master classes.
I have studied playing the classical guitar in Conservatoire České Budějovice and
became a teacher of the instrument. My main field of expertise is classical guitar but I have
also been teaching rock guitar for the last three years. I had been interested in rock music
before I studied the classical one and as a matter of fact rock guitar terminology almost
exclusively consists of English denotations. I intend to connect these three areas in this thesis.
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2 Theoretical Part
2.1 Lexicon
According to Collins English Dictionary “lexicon” is “a list of terms relating to a
particular subject“ (Collins). The lexicon that is the subject of this thesis was collected during
my teaching practise and it concerns guitar playing techniques. The phrases were selected
according to their usage and also to their importance. Their order is determined by their
connection to the following text which means that the best way how to read the practical part
is from the beginning to the end. Any new phrase is either mentioned in the previous text or
explained in the next section. Cross references are used throughout the Practical part for better
coherence of the whole text.
Another factor that was taken into account was the meaning of the phrases and the
relation between the precision of the expression in the language and actual execution in case
of techniques and possible connotations in case of abstract denotations. Some phrases or
words were added with the aim of clarification of other phrases or their more detailed
definitions.
Only basic concepts are addressed in this thesis to keep it concise but detailed enough
at the same time. It is focused on English and Czech equivalents – the Spanish ones are
mentioned because without further explanation. The theoretical part deals with linguistic
concepts of the phraseology (it gives dictionary meaning and explains the connections among
the phrases). The practical part is focused on meanings and explanations of the phrases and on
comparison of possible connotations and extra-linguistic connections to reality (e.g. the
execution of a playing technique) in both Czech and English languages. That is why the
Czech equivalents used throughout the practical part are followed by literal translations in
English language – to describe the meaning of the Czech phrases as precisely as possible.
The phrases can be divided into three main groups. The first group consists of phrases
concerning classical guitar, the second rock guitar and the third group deals with phrases that
are used for both types of the instrument plus several concepts from general music theory
(with a connection to guitar music in one way or another).
The most common or “normal” way of playing is being described which means: right
hand is used to “pluck” the strings and left hand is used to “fret” or press them. Special
techniques like for example lap or percussive styles of playing are not included (although
their bases are).

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2.2 Theoretical background
The theoretical part deals with denotations of the lexemes. It draws from the data
obtained in dictionaries and works with it on a general level. Dictionary definitions are given
and attention is paid to the etymological development of the individual words.
The practical part then deals more with connotations of the phrases and all their
possible meanings with connections to guitar music or music in general. Apart from linguistic
analysis it strives to determine which language gives more precise and apt denotations. It
draws mainly from my own experience as an active musician and teacher.

Denotation
In Basics of lexicology R. Vogel states that, “Denotation is the objective relationship
between a linguistic sign (i.e. a naming unit, word) and reality to which it refers. Denotation is
a dictionary meaning of lexemes (a dictionary definition)” (Vogel 9). The theoretical part
works with such definitions. These are stated and compared to each other in the next chapter.
Random house dictionary defines denotation as:
The explicit or direct meaning or set of meanings of a word or expression, as
distinguished from the ideas or meanings associated with it or suggested by it; the
association or set of associations that a word usually elicits for most speakers of a
language, as distinguished from those elicited for any individual speaker because of
personal experience. (Dictionary.com)
Individual lexemes as well as whole phrases are discussed. According to Vogel,
“lexeme” as a word is a spoken segment that can be used in isolation (and not the part of such
a word i.e. prefix, suffix etc.) (15). In some cases whole phrases are analyzed. “Phrase is a
cluster of words smaller than a clause, forming a grammatical unit” (Vogel 15). Majority of
the denotations in question are phrases.

Connotation
The practical part focuses on connotations of the phrases and lexemes. Vogel defines
connotation as the personal aspect of lexical meaning, the user’s real-world experience
associated with a lexeme that varies depending on the personal experience of individuals, it
can differ from culture to culture, time to time etc. (9). Random house dictionary defines
connotation as:
a) the associated or secondary meaning of a word or expression in addition
to its explicit or primary meaning: A possible connotation of “home” is “a place of
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warmth, comfort, and affection”.
b) the act of connoting; the suggesting of an additional meaning for a word
or expression, apart from its explicit meaning. (Dictionary.com)
These and other aspects and meanings are addressed in the practical part in order to
determine the connections, differences and concords between Czech and English equivalents
as well as their relation to reality.

Synonyms
Some of the phrases can be considered synonyms because they describe the same
technique or they refer to the same concept. According to Peprník “A synonym is a word or
phrase which has the same or nearly the same meaning as another word or phrase” (Peprník
26). We will focus on sameness in meaning as it can further our understanding of the concepts
addressed in the practical part.

Antonyms
Some of the phrases can be considered antonyms because they describe opposite
things. They may refer to some kind of reversed form of a technique or they can describe two
contradictory concepts. Kvetko states that, ”Antonyms (in Greek means opposite) may also be
defined in a narrow sense as words of opposite meaning or in a broader sense as words that
are contrary in their denotational meanings “ (72). We will focus on the broader sense with
the aim to establish more connections between individual concepts.

Word classes (Parts of speech)
“A word class (or form class) is a group of words behaving in the same way
grammatically, particularly morphologically” (Vogel 28). The number of word classes can
differ but according to Vogel “Traditional grammars distinguished parts of speech, usually the
noun, adjective, pronoun, verb, adverb, preposition, conjunction and interjection (and also the
numeral and particle in Czech)” (28). For the analysis we will need to define 5 word classes
(or parts of speech) nouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, and prepositions.

Nouns
Vogel states that, “nouns are words used for naming some living creature (person,
animal, mythological being, etc.), object (thing, plant, product etc.), place, abstract quality
(strength), concept (morpheme), action (a run) etc.” (28). In spite of nouns being the most
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common element in both English and Czech vocabulary in question, we will not discuss their
further division. The focus will remain on their meaning not their form.

Adjectives
We will need a definition and division in case of adjectives. Only the first and the third
point will be mentioned as we will discuss only separate denotations and not the whole
sentences.
Adjectives are words expressing features or qualities of nouns or pronouns.
Adjectives can appear in three positions:
 attributive – before a noun or pronoun which they (pre)modify (good life)
 predicative – they function as subject or object complements after a verb (It
seems reasonable)
 postpositive – they follow the modified noun or pronoun (usually a
compound indefinite pronoun or adverb) (somewhere cheaper, anybody
responsible). (Vogel 34).

Verbs
Vogel defines verbs as “a word class which expresses an action (play, drive), event
(blink, slide) or state (concern, remember)” (36). For the definitions we have to mention one
feature of verbs – transitivity. “Transitivity is the syntactic property of verbs characterized by
taking a direct object” (Vogel 37). We will come across verbs that can be both transitive and
intransitive.

Adverbs
Adverbs are elements of clause structure which mostly contribute to the meaning of
the verb, but also some other adjacent element like adjective, pronoun, numeral, noun or other
adverb (Vogel 39). No further division will be needed for the analysis.

Prepositions
According to Vogel “prepositions express a relationship between parts of a sentence,
usually as to the time and space” (40). No further division will be needed for the analysis.

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