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Author
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Comment
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Sakura
Registered User
(4/10/06 11:35 pm)
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Fairytale Position
I was wondering if anyone could tell me what's the name of the position of the person who announces the arrival of a guest at a ball. I tried searching for it online, but no luck so I'm hoping that someone would be able to help me here.
- Sakura
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Helen J Pilinovsky
Registered User
(4/11/06 7:53 am)
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Re: Fairytale Position
It depends on the chronological setting, but that would probably be the herald.
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Bill Willingham
Registered User
(4/12/06 12:31 am)
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Re: Fairytale Position
I suspect [u]Major Domo[/u] is the term you're looking for.
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midori snyder
Registered User
(4/12/06 11:47 am)
ezSupporter
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Re: Fairytale Position
hmmmm...maybe but the herald is "An official formerly charged with making royal proclamations and bearing messages of state between sovereigns." which might make him a more likely candidate for "announcing" sovereign guests of honor...while the major domo is the head stewart or butler, who arranges the private affairs of his employer.
Sorry Mr. Willingham (at whose name I gasped in awed reverence!) but I think Helen's guess is closer to the mark.
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Bill Willingham
Registered User
(4/12/06 1:36 pm)
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Re: Fairytale Position
M. Snyder: " ...but I think Helen's guess is closer to the mark."
You're no doubt correct, since heralds did perform that duty for the upper nobility. But, since not everyone, even in medieval times, could afford their own herald (usually just the kings and such, right?), if I recall my western cultural history correctly (and I'm perfectly willing to admit I don't*) the major domestic servant of an estate -- major domo -- was the one most often tasked with the privilege of announcing the guests at a ball. I think this came into common practice with the rising of the rich mercantile class, who weren't nobles themselves, but were often more wealthy than the nobility ruling over them and were increasingly the ones throwing the swank parties. Since Sakura didn't specify who would be throwing the ball in question (maybe the local king, but maybe not) I thought my answer might fit the bill.
Then again, we may both be wrong and ‘seneschal’ is what Sakura was after all along.
(*My memory seems to have its own strange agenda. While it seems intent on holding onto every detail of the first time Spiderman fought the Scorpion and while I can still recall every word and note of the closing credits theme from the Peter Potamus show, which I last watched about 40 years ago, I can’t seem to recall those things that I really need to know: proper names (even of family members), when the rent is due, what day of the week it is, and so on.)
Edited by: Bill Willingham at: 4/12/06 1:38 pm
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midori snyder
Registered User
(4/13/06 5:34 am)
ezSupporter
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Re: Fairytale Position
And of course, if one is too poor to employ either a herald or a major domo, there is always the ten year old boy who when asked "tell your sister its time for dinner" will turn his head and shout "Dinner's Ready!" loud enough to crack the eggs in the neighbor's fridge. I am not sure what his title is, but I can think up an awful lot of names to call him.
(as for memory and names...after a thousand students I find that "hey you" followed by "yeah you" has liberated me from many a tight spot.)
By the way Sakura, before we derail your question any further, what are you working on? Sounds intriquing...
Edited by: midori snyder at: 4/13/06 6:54 am
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Sakura
Registered User
(4/15/06 11:20 pm)
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Re: Fairytale Position
Ah, thank you everyone for youre replies!
And to midori, it's nothing really. Just a little story I'm suppose to write for school and it just didn't sound right to say "that person who announces people."
So yes, thank you very much. All of you were very helpful!
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Rosemary Lake
Registered User
(4/17/06 10:55 pm)
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Butler?
In a more modest setting, where Herald or Major Domo might seem pretentious or unlikely, I'd probably just say 'the Butler.'
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gigi
Unregistered User
(4/18/06 7:46 pm)
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servant
Perhaps it could be used as the Master of Ceremonies? I know this is a bit off according to wikipedia but a ball could be a staged event....
especailly if it took weeks to plan....
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Sakura
Registered User
(4/19/06 12:49 am)
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Re: servant
Now I'm a bit confused. ^^;; People suggested so many things that it's quite hard to actually know which one to pick now. I guess I'll just have to look up all your suggestions and see which one would work best.
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Rosemary Lake
Registered User
(4/20/06 9:14 pm)
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passive voice?
Would you get down-graded for using passive voice? "When her name was announced -- "Miss Cinderella of Chimney Corner!" -- everyone turned to stare."
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Sakura
Registered User
(4/20/06 10:01 pm)
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Re: passive voice?
Ah, I don't believe so! Why that's a wonderful idea! Although it is lovely as well to learn all these titles that I've never even heard of before. I just adore things like this so I'm always thrilled to know more about the medieval ages.
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Rosemary Lake
Registered User
(4/21/06 6:04 pm)
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passive voice?
Using passive voice or some other device to avoid naming the servant/herald/whatever might also be good for another reason, depending on the point of view of your story. If your point of view character is not extremely familiar with this sort of situation, how would he/she KNOW what title this person had? Planting that knowledge or describing the person etc etc could slow down the story and put emphasis on something quite unimportant.
If you wanted to avoid passive voice, you could do something like, { A hush fell over the room and everyone turned to look as a voice proclaimed, "Princess Cinderella of Chimney Corner!" }
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Gunnlods Cup
Registered User
(4/22/06 6:10 pm)
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Re: passive voice?
Another possibility is a "steward" which would be more or less the same thing as a major domo, but seems a little more common.
If it's a royal ball, I'd go with "herald" though.
Or the passive voice. :)
Butler or footman would be appropriate if the setting is post-mediaeval, but I don't think I've heard those terms used until discussing the 18th century or later. In the mediaeval period, a butler (or closest equivalent word) was a wine steward, according to my word origin dictionary.
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