[pianotech] conventional terms

[David Ilvedson]

I agree with David...we've been through this and it aint going to change...remember looking at the logo for the first time...yikes

David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA  94044

----- Original message ----------------------------------------
From: "Porritt, David" <dporritt at mail.smu.edu>
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Received: 7/23/2009 7:28:10 AM
Subject: Re: [pianotech] conventional terms


>Tom:

>This is an old, long debated item - check the archives.  Everyone understands that a 
>Registered Nurse is educated and tested as are Registered Physical Therapists (the 
>other RPTs).  There has been enough marketing effort put into RPT that any change 
>would cancel out a lot of good marketing effort.

>If one wants to be linguistically correct at all times, we'd have to change our titles 
>about every 10 years since words change their meanings all the time.

>dp

>David M. Porritt, RPT
>dporritt at smu.edu

>From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf 
>Of Tom Sivak
>Sent: Thursday, July 23, 2009 8:17 AM
>To: pianotech
>Subject: [pianotech] conventional terms

>I think it's interesting that everyone, including myself, always refers to the National 
>Institute, as the "convention".   The PTG should just change its terminology to fit the 
>conventions of modern day terminology.  This event is more succinctly defined as a 
>convention.

>According to one dictionary source, an institute is "an association organized to 
>promote art or science or education."

>A convention is "a large formal assembly".

>It's no coincidence that everyone calls it a "convention" because that's what it is.    
>I'm sure I'm not the only one who called it an "institute" in conversation with a 
>non-tuner and was then questioned about it.  Call it a convention and everyone 
>knows what you're talkingn about.

>Hey, isn't that what language is all about?  Communication?

>But then, if we're going to talk terminology, my first priority would be to change the 
>term "Registered Piano Technician".  This term bears no weight in the every day 
>world.  It sounds like I took the time to fill out a card and now I'm registered with the 
>PTG.  Like a dog is registered with the village and wears a little medallion on his 
>collar.

>Two standard definitions of "Registered" are
>"enrolled"
>or
>"recorded in writing"

>Does that describe accurately the status of a technician who has passed his exams?
>"Technician who has been enrolled"?
>"Technician who has his name recorded in writing"?

>The PTG should use English terms that accurately describe what it is they are trying 
>to define.

>Tom Sivak
>Chicago