Tintin Forums

Here's something that's been in the back of my mind for a while, but never coalesced as a thought until just now.

All the "professors" in the series -- Calculus, Reedbuck, etc. -- never seem to do much professing. I suspect the meaning of the word is slightly different in British English in that perhaps it refers to someone of great learning and intellectual/academic accomplishment who may or may not teach. The "professors" in the series are highly educated people devoted to an area or areas of scholarly pursuit but are not "professors" as some people, I guess Americans, know them.

I'm American, and to me, "professors" are the people who teach you in colleges and universities. They are people of great learning and intellectual/academic accomplishment, of course, but their occupation is pedagogy.

Or hey, who knows. Maybe Professor Calculus IS a professor after all, in the same way that Tintin is a reporter. He has the position, but we never see him there. :)

Anybody have any metallurgical nuggets of wisdom?

In the UK we refer to the people who teach at college and university as lecturers or tutors; We wouldn't refer to a tutor as "professor" unless they specifically held the rank; in my experience they tend to be referred to by their first names, or "sir" if in a more formal setting. Calculus would probably have been a research professor in his various fields (eg. ultrasonics) and would presumably have published papers on some of these.

Having just checked Red Rackham's Treasure, Calculus never actually introduces himself as a professor, although Tintin calls it him a few pages later. Perhaps Calculus didn't hear and never corrected him?

(Edit: I was writing this at the same time as Richard was posting above, so this duplicates some of his thoughts.)

Yeah, I'd say that the title Professor - especially used in fiction - does seem to have a slightly different connotation in British English than in American usage. I don't think there's that much technical difference - more of a common cultural usage difference.

I think you become a professor in Britain by gaining a certain level of post-graduate degree (though I could be wrong.) I don't think you have to be teaching or lecturing to be called a professor. In fiction, at least, they're more often seen engaged in research than in teaching students. And although you can be a professor in any subject, fictional professor characters usually seem to be achetypal scientists or inventors.

Although some of the people teaching you at UK colleges or universities will be professors, others will be doctors and others will simply be graduates who've gone into higher education teaching. The generic term for a university teacher would be "lecturer" (not to be confused with lecherer, though that would also describe quite a few of the ones I recall.)

Don't know what the situation regarding professors is or was in Belgium though.

Sorry. You were after a nugget of wisdom, and - as usual from me - you got more of a rambling steam of semi-informed thoughts.

Richard
Having just checked Red Rackham's Treasure, Calculus never actually introduces himself as a professor, although Tintin calls it him a few pages later. Perhaps Calculus didn't hear and never corrected him?

Hey, very interesting point! I never thought of that. Tintin sure is zealous about the honorifics. Maybe all Haddock's friends call him Archie and Tintin's the only one respectful enough to refer to him as Captain. :)

Balthazar

Yeah, I'd say that the title Professor - especially used in fiction - does seem to have a slightly different connotation in British English than in American usage. I don't think there's that much technical difference - more of a common cultural usage difference.


Ah, well said!!! You know, being American, I really appreciate the translation into British English. It adds a very significant layer of enjoyment for me. I wonder what the series would be like for us English speakers if Tintin had been translated by Americans. I doubt I'd like that as much but who knows.

I tend to think the translator duo of being the Great Infallible, the Wind in a Young Girl's Hair, as my colleague tuhatguano phrased it. And thus, I think that in a situation where I think they may have made a mistake, or used a word improperly, I'm wrong and they're right.

I remembered my dad saying about people's ranks. Well, Tintin was sort of knighted by King Muskar VII in King's Ottokar's Sceptre. I think that Tintin could become Sir Tintin.

For Calculus' case, he was highly educated and earned his name Professor Cuthbert Calculus phd. etc... Well, Calculus is multi-talented. An ace in astronomical physhics, a great rose-pruner, a great inventor and etc.. Professor, in my words is a person who's highly educated.

Now, we see doctors at clinics but do you know that some countries have 'Doctors' in politics, and they don't study medicine? Well, in Singapore, we have Dr. Yacoob Ibrahim, a representative of Parliment and Minister in Water Resources. He never studied medicine and his 'Doctor' name was obtained of taking a certain type of 'rank' test. I don't know wheter there's such a thing now?

Here you go. I always question the accuracy of wiki, but this seems to be close.

The meaning of the word professor (Latin: "one who claims publicly to be an expert") varies. In most English-speaking countries, it refers to a senior academic who holds a departmental chair, especially as head of the department, or a personal chair awarded specifically to that individual. In some countries like in the United States, Canada and India, individuals often use the term professor as a polite form of address for any teacher, lecturer, or researcher employed by a college or university, regardless of rank. In some countries, e.g. Austria, Romania, Serbia and Italy, the term also applies to high school teachers

tintinspartan
Doctor is another word that has its origins in Latin. Basically meaning "teacher". It is used as an honored academic title. People who obtain "doctorates" (An advanced university degree) can call themselves Doctors whether or not they are in the medical profession. I believe this is still the case.

Moderator Note: Actually it is the other way around: medics have the purely honorary title “doctor”, regardless of whether they have a PhD; however, if you have a PhD, “doctor” is a proper title to reflect your academic status. However, some people see having a PhD as being the true sign of accomplishment, but actually using the title is common and gauche. A bit like people who get a knighthood, then say “Oh, just call me Jim…”.