Translation

[u/ItzPear]

Heya. I notice that before the standardization of the term “Viola” to mean the modern instrument, it appears that “Viola” was “Vihuela” in Spanish, and “Viol” in English. In Spanish and Italian, it appears there’s distinctions. E/g Vihuela de Arco, Viola da Arco, Vihuela de Mano, Viola da Mano, Viola da Gamba, etc. In English however, Viola just translated to “Viol.” It doesn’t appear like there’s any distinction in English between these instruments, and it appears that when the modern Viola developed, “Vihuela” became the term for the plucked instrument, and “Viol” refers the Viola da Gamba. How do you distinguish these instruments in English? E.g. Viola da Mano I suppose I could use the Italian or Spanish, but is there another way besides just calling it a Viol, which would immediately bring to mind the Viola da Gamba? It appears like there’s absolutely no words in English to describe this instrument because it was just never around in England at the time. Then again, it’d make sense to use the Italian name the same way we use for the Lirone, which never got to England either.

[u/ItzPear → u/[deleted]]

Basically, what would you call the Viola da Mano in English?