Whippen / wippen

[Newton Hunt]

Hi Jim,

I had a pile of paperwork and manuscripts of "Nomenclature"
close to four inches thick.  The nomenclature committee was
created by the council specifically to prepare and
"official" book of nomenclature.  Merle and I did most of
the work spending months going over every piece of
information we could get from every manufacturer who would
give us the time of day.  I don't mean a few hours, I mean
months and months, calling, writing, meeting over a two year
period before the final manuscript was submitted to council,
not the home office, the council, which approved the
manuscript for publication recommended by the home office
and the board.

The mandate came from the council, the work was ours by
appointment, the work was approved by council, the board and
the home office.

There are errors in the book and there are disagreements in
the book but it was and is the ONLY book of it's kind in
existence in the English language.

> > "So, the official American English spelling is WIPPEN as
> > accepted by council and PTG officers of the time."
> 
> Uhh Newton I think you need to rethink this statement. Or failing that we 
> should get you a 'T' shirt that says something like "I must hurry and catch 
> up with the others for I am their leader"! :-))

So, I will stand by my statement and I will be more than
happy to wear the T-shirt provided the other side reads
something like "Forgetful Member, The Retarded Geriatric
Debating Society".

As I said Merle did most of the hard work and I did the rest
with excellent support from the other committee members like
Steve Jellen, Roger Weisensteiner and the others I cannot
remember.  I have moved seven times since that work was done
so I have lost track of the paper work but if you wish you
can go back in the council files and minutes and find that
paper work.

Roger is still around, ask him!

		Newton
JIMRPT@AOL.COM wrote:
> 
> In a message dated 9/26/2000 10:04:14 AM, Newton wrote:





































































> 
> <<"So, the official American English spelling is WIPPEN as
> accepted by council and PTG officers of the time.">>
> 
> Uhh Newton I think you need to rethink this statement. Or failing that we
> should get you a 'T' shirt that says something like "I must hurry and catch
> up with the others for I am their leader"! :-))
> 
>  As much as I value Merles book, and the work put into it by others such as
> yourself, it is still just a 'guide' and not the last, or "official", word on
> nomenclature. This is particuarly important when the major manufacturers  use
> a spelling other than what you say is the "official" spelling, or call this
> danged thingee in question by an entirely different name..
> 
>   Since the English speaking world seems to get by just fine with words such
> as 'color' spelled as both "color" and "colour" and this because everyone
> knows what is being addressed, why should there be a dealli vis a vis
> "wippen/whippen?. Doesn't everyone know what is being asked about or
> discussed when either spelling/nomenclature is used?
> 
>  Standard nomenclatures are desirable in our field but an 'understanding' of
> what is being spoken of is even more desirable. Given a choice between
> standardized nomenclature, and understanding, I will take the understanding
> everytime. Of course 'standardized' nomenclature would help in understanding,
> mostly, but what about those languages which have no equivalent words for
> what we want to discuss, isn't the understanding most important even to the
> detriment of "standardized" spelling/nomenclature? Furthermore what about
> those instruments that have a "whippenlike" article that ain't really a
> "wippen"?
> 
>  As for Merele being the final word on nomenclature...I can't buy that when
> the book is replete with examples of multiple names being given to the same
> item. Now even if PTG has adopted Merles as being the last word in
> nomenclature which is the correct one?
> Is it "damper lever" or "underlever"?
> Is it the "long bridge", "belly bridge" or the "continuous bridge treble
> section"??
> Is it the "damper lift rail", "swing rail", "lifting rail" "under lever
> frame","damper lever frame", damper tray", "damper table" or is it the
> infamous "damper lift board"???
> 
>  While I commend Merles Book to each and all for its general excellence and
> for its contribution to standardization........ it ain't the 'last word' and
> it don't make nuttin "official" vis a vis "American English".
> 
> As for those who think "wip" is correct..may the dragon bless you.
> As for those who think "whip" is correct...may the dragon bless you.
> For those who understand what is being said regardless of being sans "h" or
> replete with "h".. may the dragon bless you most of all. :-)
> Jim Bryant (FL)