WAR Group B Keyword Response Performance/Spectator

Justin: Following an entertaining but not especially enlightening discussion of the distinction between “live” and “recorded” performance, I commented on how Kati seemed to prefer the word “spectator” to “audience”, choosing to emphasize the “viewing” as opposed to the “hearing” of a performance. To be honest, I never liked the word “audience”, but I’m not overly-fond of “spectator” either. Both of these words seem to limit the sensory experience of attending a performance. I like to say “witness” instead. Actually, I really like the French word, “assistance”, closely associated with the verb “to help”, which removes the term from the realm of the senses and concentrates rather on the participation, the action of those in attendance. We quickly found a range of remarkable related vocabulary from our different cultural backgrounds.

Nevena: In Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia (three of five former Yugoslavia countries which are supposed to have similar languages) there are different words for “theatre”. In Slovenian language it is “gledalisce” (from the verb gledati – to watch), in Croatian it is kazaliste (from the word kazati – to say) and in Serbian it is pozoriste (from the old word pozor, a place where something is happening). It is quite interesting that the three words coming from the same cultural space express different relations to theatre. It is the often case in many languages though.

Jasmine: In Thailand, two words that are commonly applied to those who attend performances are both related to the “viewing”, or the visual—with the literal translation of khon doo as “[the] people [who] watch”, and phoo chom as “those [who] view”. The word phoo fang (“those [who] listen”), interestingly, is used mostly—if not only—to refer to those who attend conferences. This, in my opinion and knowledge, can be traced back to the traditional theatre culture in Thailand. In the past, people went to shows to socialize and be entertained. Talking amongst themselves and eating while shows were being performed were common activities, and hence the visual was the only thing they could rely on. There was no need to be quiet or pay attention to the performers.

Lu: In China, there are two words, “guan zhong” refers to people who watch or who watch and listen at the same time. “ting zhong” refers to people who only listen, i.e. listen to radio.