Dear Ken, Francois
A couple of centuries later, in Nathan Bailey's An Universal Etymologial
English Dictionary, published in 1721 we can read: "FUNCTION [Fonction
F.] the Exercice, Execution, or Performance of Some Charge, Duty, or
Office."
in
http://books.google.pt/books?id=CFBGAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=nathan+bailey&source=bl&ots=hkYCXEJnpw&sig=DoNEAcENvFI0gt-AFffZ9pWcxOk&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Kz1XUMfoI4rIhAeI4oGwAQ&sqi=2&ved=0CDgQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=nathan%20bailey&f=false
And in 1828 on the other side of the Atlantic Noah Webster (to whom God
Himself dictated the first American English Dictionary according to some
Christian websites) postulated:
*"FUNC'TION,* n. [L. functio, from fungor, to perform.]
1. In a general sense, the doing, executing or performing of any
thing; discharge; performance; as the function of a calling or
office. More generally,
2. Office or employment, or any duty or business belonging to a
particular station or character, or required of a person in the
station or character. Thus we speak of the functions of a
chancellor, judge or bishop; the functions of a parent or guardian.
3. Trade; occupation. [Less proper.]
4. The office of any particular part of animal bodies; the peculiar
or appropriate action of a member or part of the body, by which the
animal economy is carried on. Thus we speak of the functions of the
brain and nerves, of the heart, of the liver, of the muscles, &c.
5. Power; faculty, animal or intellectual.
As the mind opens, and its functions spread.
6. In mathematics, the function of a variable quantity, is any
algebraic expression into which that quantity enters, mixed with
other quantities that have invariable values."
in
http://1828.mshaffer.com/d/search/word,function
In my view, the 4th meaning will lead to our "Form follows Function".
A Few years ago, I wrote (in Portuguese) a paper called "Antecedentes da
Autonomia Científica do Design" that among other things "blamed" the
cultural acceptance of Darwinism as one of the crucial cultural inputs
in Modern Design because shifted an Art paradigm that Nature was
harmonic and stable to another that was dynamic and changeable. In two
different ways the two paradigms believed in the perfectness of Nature.
Functions in organisms related to the environment were vital for
survival and determined change.
What this brief digression through the evolution of the meaning of
function reveals is that the aspect of performance, task, duty is more
important than the purpose. In my view this side of function has also a
character of repetitiveness and mechanical dullness. A Brazilian
colleague, Ethel Leon reminded me off-line that in Brazil, função,
designates also some bureaucratic procedures tedious and complicated.
Sometimes (as all designers have experienced) Form follows Bureaucracy.
Best,
Eduardo
Em 17-09-2012 03:59, Francois Nsenga escreveu:
> Dear Ken and Eduardo
>
> Thank you for confirming Gavin's contribution. Even according to Webster's
> New World Dictionary, Second College Edition, the Indo-european and
> sanskrit origin of the term is indeed more related to social ceremonial and
> enjoyment.
>
> It looks then that my divagation below is not substantiated.
>
> "Does it simply have to do with many members of a society getting together
>> (elements ‘assembled’, i.e. designed) to make an event (a non-material)
>> artefact happen? Is this interpretation correct?”
>>
>>
> Thank you and best wishes
>
> Francois
> Montreal
>
>
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--
Eduardo Côrte-Real
Prof. Doctor
IADE, Lisboa
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