A gymnastic nomenclature. Pt. I, Free gymnastics / [Ernst Hermann Arnold].

  • Arnold, Ernst Hermann, 1865-
Date:
[1906?]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: A gymnastic nomenclature. Pt. I, Free gymnastics / [Ernst Hermann Arnold]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    part, performed on other bodies animate or inanimate. The terms used in horsemanship may well illustrate the first instance, those in rowing and sailing the other. It appears therefore as if almost any language would furnish well established and, therefore, generally understood terms for a gymnastic nomenclature, when gymnastics are considered as an art. For, tactics, free gymnastics without and with hand apparatus, and exercises on apparatus will' correspond to the above mentioned classes of movements on the one hand, and on the other all gj^mnastic movements may ulti- mately be classified as being either free gymnastics without or with hand apparatus, or then exercises on apparatus. This being the case, the necessity of coining new words, of giving old words having no rela- tion to the movements of the human body a gymnastic meaning does not present itself. If therefore arbitrary terms are used in gymnastic nomenclature, their use can only be explained by an insufficient knowl- edge of language or the desire to appear scientific at any price. Having considered gymnastics as an art we must now listen to its claim as a science. As such it is certainly entitled to a scientific nomen- clature as much as any other science. Admitting this claim we ask once more: “Are new and arbitrary’^ terms necessary?” As far as I am aware physical training has presented few if any new facts independent of other sciences. We can, therefore, make use in scientific gymnastics of the nomenclature of the auxiliary and allied sciences, such as anatomy, physiology, psychology, phy^sics, etc., which relieves us of the task of constructing a specifically gym- nastic set of terms. If, in order to further gymnastics, it were desirable to have an inter- national set of terms, the claims for a purely gymnastic nomenclature, constructed according to the second mode, would be in a measure justi- fied. The necessity tor international understanding would have to be proven first. But even if it were proven we should have to recall the fact that translations in matters relating to gymnastic science is rather easy because all languages possess the term for the movements them- selves, and for the auxiliary' sciences practically international nomen- clatures are already in existence. I consider, therefore, the construction of a gymnastic nomenclature, even it were to serve only the profession for the communication of thought, a matter of English philogogy pure and simple. The subject of rational nomenclature assumes much greater im- portance when the nomenclature is to be used not for communication between members of the profession but for purposes of actual teaching. If physical training is to be of any consequence in an educational scheme it must become an integral part of the curriculum of the different institutions of learning. Only if the beneficial effects of gymnastics become apparent to the pupils, their parents or guardians, and to the rest of the teaching force as well as to the special teacher, who a great many times sees results because he wants to see them and not because they are actually present, can we ever expect to see gymnastics become