Scottish, Irish, and just generally Gaelic Flute Music?

[OC Richard]

...most flute players I've interacted with haven't had issues with the term, but perhaps that's a result of its normalization over time.

Just how normalised "flautist" is depends on context.

If you showed up at an Irish music session populated by Irish people and/or non-Irish people who have spent a lot of time in the Irish trad world and announced that you were a "flautist" there would be rolling of eyes and knowing glances.

About the classical/orchestral/mainstream flute world Nancy Toff is about as much an insider as there can be, and I've quoted her opinions above.

My point is that incorrect terms can get traction outside of the field the term comes from, but not within that field.

An example that comes to mind is "flippers" which isn't used within the scuba diving world. They're called "fins".

One thing that's very widespread when people who don't know anything about languages or linguistics are talking about languages they don't speak is describing all of them as being either "nasal" or "guttural". It's nonsense. These terms do have specific meanings in linguistics, for example a "nasal" is a sound where the air escapes through the nose. English has two nasals "m" and "n" (try saying those while holding your nose) but there's no such thing as a "nasal language".

[WildThistles]

Just how normalised "flautist" is depends on context.

If you showed up at an Irish music session populated by Irish people and/or non-Irish people who have spent a lot of time in the Irish trad world and announced that you were a "flautist" there would be rolling of eyes and knowing glances.

About the classical/orchestral/mainstream flute world Nancy Toff is about as much an insider as there can be, and I've quoted her opinions above.

My point is that incorrect terms can get traction outside of the field the term comes from, but not within that field.

An example that comes to mind is "flippers" which isn't used within the scuba diving world. They're called "fins".

One thing that's very widespread when people who don't know anything about languages or linguistics are talking about languages they don't speak is describing all of them as being either "nasal" or "guttural". It's nonsense. These terms do have specific meanings in linguistics, for example a "nasal" is a sound where the air escapes through the nose. English has two nasals "m" and "n" (try saying those while holding your nose) but there's no such thing as a "nasal language".

That is good to know, thank you for the information: ) I've heard of a lot of stories regarding groups where language to describe them is given that the original group may have not agreed with, and then younger people who aren't as in touch with that original group and who grow into the group just continue to use that non-preferred language.

[User]

...

These terms do have specific meanings in linguistics, for example a "nasal" is a sound where the air escapes through the nose. English has two nasals "m" and "n" (try saying those while holding your nose) but there's no such thing as a "nasal language".

I never would have guessed that this morning I'd recite the alphabet with my nose plugged.