you're gonna love this one

[Scaramouche]

Today in my Intro to Linguistics class, I explained to the class how fencing was a type of Speech Event with people having a "conversation" of some sort. Don't think I backed up the argument as well as I could have, but the teacher said at the end that she now knows more about fencing than she ever did before. That amused me <img src="graemlins/dunce.gif" border="0" alt="[Dunce]" />

[Mergs]

As far as your teacher is concerned, when you start at 0, the only way is up! Way to go, though. Although, I usually go the other way and try explain in my fencing classes common uses of fencing terms (parry - to deflect, riposte - come back, forte - someone's strength or area of expertise, foible - a recurrent weakness, etc). I am finding that more and more this is met with blank stares. Obviously the terms are going out of style.

[ 01-10-2002: Message edited by: Mergs ]</p>

[Eileen]

::nods:: I've done that too Mergs, sometimes even the old "foiled again" is met with a blank stare.

Sometimes, but not all the time yet so there is still hope

Repartee (as in "witty repartee" is also related to fencing).

If all else fails I usually go to boxing for terms they know, for example "bout."

[Event Horizon]

So how did the audience like it? Like the instructor, do u think they know more now? I imagine they liked it since it's probably the first time they heard about Fencing being explained. hehe.

[Christopher J Umbs]

Scaramouche,

Absolutely!!! I use the 'conversation' explanation all the time. Usually, when I'm referring to people who only know a couple of ‘words’ and insist on ‘shouting’ them. Also, you can only have a ‘conversation’ with somebody who speaks the same language as you.

[Scaramouche]

Chris, Good point!! Wish you'd been there to back me up! She asked me to explain how fencing fit the criteria we were discussing and I did a bad job but I think she got the general idea

But talking about fencing (since that's pretty much what we're doing around here, eh?) I think I get to start fencing again next week! It's about time too, it's been nearly 5 weeks! <img src="graemlins/freak4.gif" border="0" alt="[Freak2]" />

[ladybug]

My coach uses the "conversation" explanaiton to all his new students, I've heard it often enough that I think it's embedded in my subconsious. That's probably why I called an "attack in the prepositon" while directing the other day. Got some pretty funny looks from the fencers on that one!!!!

[sallearmourer]

My oldest son wrote a paper on fencing at the West Point Prep school. Next thing he knew he ended up starting a club there and is the Team captain.

Tim <img src="graemlins/freak4.gif" border="0" alt="[Freak2]" />

[Scaramouche]

Wow Salle, that's really cool!

[escrime chick]

the conversation analogy is good, especially since a sequence of fencing is called a phrase...