Subject: Re: baidarka Kayak Specimen Photographs
From: Harvey Golden (qayaq@pacifier.com)
Date: Wed Mar 14 2001 - 23:18:04 EST
Dear David,
I've had the same quandry of what to call a kayak in a museum. I ended up
with 'artifact:' its less scientific-sounding, (than 'specimen') and has
the delightful root-word of 'art.' My meager dictionary is only slightly
less illiterate than me, and defines 'artifact' briefly as "any object made
by human work, as a primitive tool." The 'primitive tool' part (in the
context of kayaks) has connotations of inferiority or naive, but I
personally don't believe the word 'artifact' connotes this.
I think 'artifact' inherently suggests that the item once belonged to a
culture; 'specimen' tends to suggest having belonged to an organism (which
indeed kayak-parts do.) Either way, they are both very 'dead' sounding.
Harvey
----- Original Message -----
From: David W. Zimmerly <dwzimmerly@arctickayaks.com>
To: <baidarka@ns1.intelenet.net>
Sent: Wednesday, March 14, 2001 9:06 AM
Subject: baidarka Kayak Specimen Photographs
> For those worrying about my use of the term 'kayak specimen' I'd be glad
for
> any alternate suggestions. I use the term 'specimen' in the
representative
> or scientific meaning, to differentiate the photos as being examples
found
> in museums, etc. as opposed to photos taken in the field.
> Perhaps my aphasia is showing? DWZ
>
> spec·i·men [spéssmn ] (plural spec·i·mens) noun
>
> 1. representative thing: something that is representative because it is
> typical of its kind or of a whole, especially something that serves as an
> example (often used before a noun) a specimen of the candidate's
> handwriting
> 2. type of person: somebody who displays or seems to typify certain
> characteristics (informal) "turning away with disgust from the loathsome
> specimen of humanity before him" Baroness Orczy The Scarlet Pimpernel
(1905)
> 3. MEDICINE sample of body material: a sample, for example, of urine or
> blood used for testing and diagnosis
> 4. SCIENCE typical example: an organism or one of its parts preserved as
a
> typical example of its classification
>
> [Early 17th century. From Latin, where it was formed from specere "to look
> at"
> (From Encarta World English Dictionary)
>
> David W. Zimmerly
> RR3 Stn Main
> Perth, ON K7H 3C5 Canada
>
> Email: mailto:dwzimmerly@ArcticKayaks.com
> Web site: http://www.arctickayaks.com/
>
> Date: Fri, 9 Mar 2001 19:21:12 -0800 (PST)
> From: Tom Wainright <wainair@yahoo.com>
> Subject: Re: baidarka Arctic Kayaks - Photographs
>
> oha Ita a hurt a really a badda. pasqualie(in the
> kindest way) Tom
>
> Chris Kohut <chriskayak@earthlink.net> wrote:
> > I note that the files were entitled 'Kayak specimen
> > photos'......hmmm,
> > 'specimen'......
> > ......that's an Italian astronaut, right?
> >
>
>
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