"It's perspective and relative. Neither you nor I can pronounce otherwise. "
It really isn't about "pronouncing" anything Muskie.
We all have our individual interests in these things and work to them.
If we are going to discuss them, involve other people in them, write or talk about them, attempt to pass them on.... we have to reach a consensus on what we mean.
Like it or not, there is an established definition - actually summed up in 1954, but arrived at at least half a century before that.
It is tied in with other disciplines, Folk dance, music, lore customs, tales, art.... all related by origin.
If you are not happy with the existing definition - fine - change it, but in order for it to serve any purpose, you have to reach some form of consensus on those changes.
If you don't need a definition for what you do, fine also, but don't knock those of us who do.
I find it more than a little ironic and often get rather pissed off with sneery and often vicious arguments which rant about "folk police" and trying to "impose our views on others" by people who are doing exactly what they are accusing us of.
If you have a definition of your own - great - tell us what it is.
I've shown you mine - you show me yours!
It seems totally bizarre to me that a subject as fundamental as this has become a no-go area on a forum that purports to be dedicated to folk song and music.
I cannot think of another single artistic or cultural endevour where this is the case.
'The Folk Police Rule - O.K'.
Jim Carroll