Musical terms in American and British English Thread poster: Karin Maack
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Karin Maack 
Germany
Local time: 03:43
English to German
Here is a question for English native speakers: What would you do in the following case?
A German book that has been translated into English and is now being proofread and edited will only be published in one English version. It has to do with music and of course, there are terms like crotchet/quarter note, quaver/eighth note. Would an American understand the British terms? Or would the British find the American term unprofessional? What should be used so most people would be able to under... See more Here is a question for English native speakers: What would you do in the following case?
A German book that has been translated into English and is now being proofread and edited will only be published in one English version. It has to do with music and of course, there are terms like crotchet/quarter note, quaver/eighth note. Would an American understand the British terms? Or would the British find the American term unprofessional? What should be used so most people would be able to understand the text easily? Is it possible to use one term and put the other one in brackets?
I am glad if you share your thoughts. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Joseph Tein
United States
Local time: 18:43
Member (2009)
Spanish to English
+ ...
Speaking from this side of the world: I'm used to reading about eighth notes and quarter notes. As a music lover and performer, and having taught music theory and history classes, I've seen the terms crotchet and quaver and hemi-quaver etc., but would find them difficult to follow in a text; even with my interest and experience in music I'd have to look each of them up in a dictionary to see what they mean since they're hardly used here.
We need to hear from the UK side whether the... See more Speaking from this side of the world: I'm used to reading about eighth notes and quarter notes. As a music lover and performer, and having taught music theory and history classes, I've seen the terms crotchet and quaver and hemi-quaver etc., but would find them difficult to follow in a text; even with my interest and experience in music I'd have to look each of them up in a dictionary to see what they mean since they're hardly used here.
We need to hear from the UK side whether they would easily understand the terms we use here. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 02:43
Member (2007)
English
+ ...
Joseph Tein wrote:
Speaking from this side of the world: I'm used to reading about eighth notes and quarter notes. As a music lover and performer, and having taught music theory and history classes, I've seen the terms crotchet and quaver and hemi-quaver etc., but would find them difficult to follow in a text; even with my interest and experience in music I'd have to look each of them up in a dictionary to see what they mean since they're hardly used here.
We need to hear from the UK side whether they would easily understand the terms we use here.
I just asked my British husband, who's a performer (or was before old age set in ). He did recognise the US terms but they're far from natural for him. He also would need to look them up and he'd probably mentally stumble each time he met the American terms.
| | | | MollyRose
United States
Local time: 20:43
English to Spanish
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If agreeable with the author, publisher, or whoever, perhaps you could stick to one set of terms in the text but include a glossary. If the book is expected to be used more in the UK, use those terms, with a glossary for U.S., or vice versa if more are expected to be sold in the U.S.
Otherwise, perhaps the first time you use a term, use both versions with a slash: quaver/eighth note, and then use one of the terms subsequently (with consistency for either U.S. or British).
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| Depends partly on genre | Jan 3, 2019 |
Joseph Tein wrote:
I'm used to reading about eighth notes and quarter notes. As a music lover and performer, and having taught music theory and history classes, I've seen the terms crotchet and quaver and hemi-quaver etc., but would find them difficult to follow in a text
I agree 100%.
As a Brit who has studied both classical (years ago) and jazz music (over the last few years), I think British classical musicians would be more familiar with the UK terminology, whereas jazz musicians will have been more exposed to the US terminology, regardless of where they are based, since a lot of teaching materials come from there. I certainly struggle to recognise the British terms now.
| | | | Lincoln Hui
Hong Kong
Local time: 09:43
Member
Chinese to English
+ ...
| Err on the side of being comprehensible | Jan 4, 2019 |
My early music education and my Grade 8 theory certificate are in the British system, while my professional education was in the US.
I would say that the US terms would be recognizable by someone who has never seen it, while the UK terms will not be. Certainly I had no issue transitioning into the US system when I went to college, but I have no doubt that the words crotchet and quaver would have drawn nothing but blank looks from my college peers. When I conduct I go naturally to th... See more My early music education and my Grade 8 theory certificate are in the British system, while my professional education was in the US.
I would say that the US terms would be recognizable by someone who has never seen it, while the UK terms will not be. Certainly I had no issue transitioning into the US system when I went to college, but I have no doubt that the words crotchet and quaver would have drawn nothing but blank looks from my college peers. When I conduct I go naturally to the US system, one because I know it better, but also because I can be certain that my performers will know what I'm talking about, regardless of background.
There's another dimension to this, though. The Chinese word for quaver is literally "quarter note" in natural language, and the same goes for the other note lengths. So mileage may differ for someone who has never been exposed to another language, or speaks a language that works differently.
[Edited at 2019-01-04 03:53 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Personally ... | Jan 4, 2019 |
I studied music in the U.S., I have a Bachelor of Music degree from an American university, and performed professionally (as a singer) in opera ensembles in the U.S.
I don't recall ever hearing any of the British terms, except perhaps occasionally while watching a British television show or movie, at least until I came to Europe, at which point (I can assure you) I was thoroughly confused. So based on my personal experience, I can tell you that the average person interested in or e... See more I studied music in the U.S., I have a Bachelor of Music degree from an American university, and performed professionally (as a singer) in opera ensembles in the U.S.
I don't recall ever hearing any of the British terms, except perhaps occasionally while watching a British television show or movie, at least until I came to Europe, at which point (I can assure you) I was thoroughly confused. So based on my personal experience, I can tell you that the average person interested in or even studying music in the U.S. will not understand the British terminology. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Erik Freitag
Germany
Local time: 03:43
Member (2006)
Dutch to German
+ ...
| Depends, but US system preferable under most circumstances | Jan 4, 2019 |
Sorry for chiming in (not a native speaker).
I asked a British colleague I'm playing with in a professional orchestra. Result: This will depend on the genre and the target market, but mostly, British musicians have adopted the US system, with the possible exception of classical music teachers.
Also, keep in mind that an English book may target an international market as well. The American terminology will be understood just fine by non-native readers, while British ter... See more Sorry for chiming in (not a native speaker).
I asked a British colleague I'm playing with in a professional orchestra. Result: This will depend on the genre and the target market, but mostly, British musicians have adopted the US system, with the possible exception of classical music teachers.
Also, keep in mind that an English book may target an international market as well. The American terminology will be understood just fine by non-native readers, while British terminology is pretty much restricted to (a part of) the British readership. ▲ Collapse
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Karin Maack
Germany
Local time: 03:43
English to German
TOPIC STARTER
...very much for your replies, they are really helpful.
| | | | MollyRose
United States
Local time: 20:43
English to Spanish
+ ...
As Lincoln Hui said: I would say that the US terms would be recognizable by someone who has never seen it, while the UK terms will not be.
This makes sense, because anyone can understand more easily what is a half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth note, etc., as opposed to quavers, etc.
| | | | | both (my experience) | Jan 7, 2019 |
I study and practise music when I am not translating. Among other things, I interface with students, teachers, and musicians from various countries. As soon as someone who is aware and knowledgeable knows he is addressing an international audience, he will use both terms, putting one in parentheses. I have also read on-line books, instructions, etc., that refer to both.
It's not just crotchets and hemidemisemiquavers but a few other terms have different meanings. For example, th... See more I study and practise music when I am not translating. Among other things, I interface with students, teachers, and musicians from various countries. As soon as someone who is aware and knowledgeable knows he is addressing an international audience, he will use both terms, putting one in parentheses. I have also read on-line books, instructions, etc., that refer to both.
It's not just crotchets and hemidemisemiquavers but a few other terms have different meanings. For example, the Americans talk of the "parallel key" while in Canada and Australia (and I think Britain) we call it the Tonic key.
In international Internet discussions folks seem to start adapting US terminology (just as it's gone for spelling -- color, not colour) --- but folks still seem to get flumoxed by things like crotchets vs. quarter / eighth notes. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 02:43
Member (2008)
Italian to English
| I tend to agree | Jan 8, 2019 |
Fiona Grace Peterson wrote: Joseph Tein wrote:
I'm used to reading about eighth notes and quarter notes. As a music lover and performer, and having taught music theory and history classes, I've seen the terms crotchet and quaver and hemi-quaver etc., but would find them difficult to follow in a text I agree 100%. As a Brit who has studied both classical (years ago) and jazz music (over the last few years), I think British classical musicians would be more familiar with the UK terminology, whereas jazz musicians will have been more exposed to the US terminology, regardless of where they are based, since a lot of teaching materials come from there. I certainly struggle to recognise the British terms now.
I tend to agree with this division. As a jazz musician myself, I always use American English when talking about it and in fact there are jazz terms that ONLY exist in American English. But being also a lover of (some) classical music I always think of it as coming from the European tradition (sorry, Charles Ives) and so I would use British English or better still, Italian, which is the language of music 
[Edited at 2019-01-08 15:33 GMT]
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