Nowadays almost everyone, often not knowing the true value, uses a word like an amateur.This is one of those terms that sounds majestic, beautiful and elegant, but not always appropriate.In order to enable you to correctly, and most importantly - at the right moments to use this word, try to understand its origins and the current value.
History of origin of the term
There is a theory according to which the layman - is borrowed expression that migrated into our speech from the French language.However, if we dig deeper, to the very root of the word etymology, we can find that in their lexical structure dilettante - an Italian word.The same language is passed from the long-dead Latin, which sounded like delecrate, which translated into Russian means to amuse, delight, love.In the days of the Roman Empire, this term was used when it was about some artists who engaged in the business without any special training.However, while some schools and in this sense was not present.Each studied himself, so the layman - it was, so to speak, the prestigious "title," which was given to capable, gifted by nature to people.
Europe in 19-20 centuries
When in the states of the Old World have schools, universities, specialized schools, where they could get an education in one direction, the meaning has changed.After all, people who have graduated from the same institute, considered by professionals (in all senses of the word), and the self-taught, who worked along with them, came to be called simply and briefly - an amateur.This is a man who, by his talents and skills, perhaps nothing, and did not concede a professional, but did not have the profile of training and all that he did, he did in his own way, different from the usual for all standards.Of course, society does not always (more rarely) recognized these artisans that influenced the further shift of the word, from a neutral to a negative.
term "amateur" in the Russian language and culture
The word "amateur" appeared in the conversations and the literature of the Russian people in the early 19th century, and it is to us from France (why, and a version of its Frenchorigin).At the time, it was fashionable to speak the language, and indeed, our ancestors often copied Western culture.In those days the amateurs often called people who were related to music.Vocational schools was extremely small, so those who want to engage in playing the piano, violin or other instruments, often learned or borrowed from the experience of friends, acquaintances and dignitaries.Amateurishness in music was very common, so among the artists met as a self-taught genius personality, and quite incapable people.It is interesting to know that the famous composer Franz Schubert, in fact, was also a cheerleader.Throughout his youth he spent in the attic, with the keys of an old piano, composing his music.He even came up with their own names of notes, and only 20 years of age learned professionally.
acquisition
broad meaning in the 20th century, the term has spread to almost all spheres of human life.Dilettantes were called the people who were engaged in unprofessional painting, sculpture, theater and music.They equated the scientists who conducted their experiments, being uneducated and did not even read in a particular area of expertise.Among them is really divorced many amateurs who wanted just to become famous without having any facilities and training.In our time dilettante - a man who, doing their job, doing the work of poor quality due to their ignorance.As you can see, their original essence of the word is not lost, only a few expanded scope.
