Route Step?

[firstexas]

Gentlemen.

I have a question as to the pronunciation of the order "Route step." This has bothered me for a while. When at an event and the route step order is given, it is always pronounced as "Rowt step." Now a route is an avenue for travel and is usually pronounced as "Root" as in "Root 66" etc. A rout (pronounced rowt) implies driving the enemy from the field in confusion, a defeated army's disorganized retreat etc. My question is should the route step order be pronounced as "Root step" or "Rowt step?" Both may be correct but I thought I would get some other opinions.

Thank you, Bill.

[BHoover]

Re: Route Step?

Gentlemen.
Both may be correct but I thought I would get some other opinions.

Thank you, Bill.

Not to be snide, but you should try using a dictionary rather than asking for opinions. There are even several available online. If you look you will find that ROUT and ROOT are both acceptable pronunciations in common English usage.

[dave81276]

Re: Route Step?

Around here it can be confusing to outsiders who care about such stuff. My neighbors and I call Washington Highway Rowt 1 and the secondary road we live on Root 623. I have heard people say "rowt" OR "root" for a collapse of a formation. I reckon it is up to personal preference.

-Dave Eggleston

[firstexas]

Re: Route Step?

Bruce,

I have consulted a dictionary and I am aware that both pronunciations are acceptible. I just thought I would get other informed opinions as I was curious.

[Dave Grieves]

Re: Route Step?

In the modern army today it is still rowt step.

I'm not sure about this, but I would imagine that the word route in this context has more to do with the common term used to describe a formation forced to leave a battle, or being routed (rowted).

It's minutia, but minutia is what we're all about, isn't it

[K Bartsch]

Re: Route Step?

In the modern army today it is still rowt step.

I'm not sure about this, but I would imagine that the word route in this context has more to do with the common term used to describe a formation forced to leave a battle, or being routed (rowted).

It's minutia, but minutia is what we're all about, isn't it

I agree, I've never heard it pronounced any other way on the drill field. Similarly, I've always heard "oblique" pronounced "O-BLIKE" at drill. I think its because the long "I" , like the "rowt" pronunciation of "route" carries better amid the din.

Cordially,

[marine05]

Re: Route Step?

I agree, I've never heard it pronounced any other way on the drill field. Similarly, I've always heard "oblique" pronounced "O-BLIKE" at drill. I think its because the long "I" , like the "rowt" pronunciation of "route" carries better amid the din.

Cordially,

Oh man, you stole my thunder!!!

s/f

DJM

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Route Step?

Hallo Kameraden!

Without getting silly with endless regionalisms... ;-)

IMHO, there are two discussions here:

1. Accepted multiple pronunciations of words (see the dictionary)
2. Regional varieties of American English in the Five Major Regions: Eastern New England, Inland Northern, North Midland, South Midland, and Southern.

I think the previous discussion on depot/depot might still be available in the SEARCH function, with such fun as do you say "merry, marry, and Mary" as the same word or three different words and offering a number of regionalisms.

I might would suggest McCrum's, Cran's, and MacNeil's THE STORY OF ENGLISH either as the PBS Television Series or the companion book.

Back to the Reagan funeral in Warshington...

Curt-Heinrich Schmidt

[firstexas]

Re: Route Step?

Thank you all for your replies. I value the opinions expressed on this site.

Best regards, Bill.

[BrianHicks]

Re: Route Step?

Consider this:

Whan an Army is routed from the field of Battle, the movement is usually done in an undisciplined manner. Arms are carried at ease (or thrown down) the men move with out any regard for staying in step. There is no silence in the ranks (and most often the unit cohesion is ignored during teh route).

In the Military, when Route Step is commanded, the men may carry their arms in a manner of their choosing. The men do not have to stay in step. The men are permitted to talk while in the ranks. Now... the men must stay in their place in the columns and files, but in some regards (as I have described above) they are moving as a unit routed form the field of battle.

Perhaps this is why this method of movemnt is called Route Step. :)

[SCSecesh]

Re: Route Step?

In the Military, when Route Step is commanded, the men may carry their arms in a manner of their choosing.

That is only partially correct! Every manual seems to specify that the muzzles are "elevated". I see arms slung muzzle down way too often!!

[RyanBWeddle]

Re: Route Step?

Here is one veteran's description of the Route Step:

"Soon we debouched upon the “Shell Road,” the wagon train drew on one side into the fog, and by the time the sun appeared the music ceased, the men took the “route step,” and the fun began. The “route step” is an abandonment of all military strictness, and nothing is required of the men but to keep four abreast, and not lag behind. They are not required to keep step, though, with the rhythmical ear of our soldiers, they almost always instinctively did so; talking and singing are allowed, and of this privilege, at least, they eagerly availed themselves. On this day they were at the top of exhilaration. There was one broad grin from one end of the column to the other; it might soon have been a caravan of elephants instead of camels, for the ivory and the blackness the chatter and the laughter almost drowned the tramp of feet and the clatter of equipments."

from Colonel Thomas Wentworth Higginson, 1st South Carolina (US)/33rd USCT

"Out on Picket" The Atlantic Monthly. / Volume 19, Issue 113 March 1867

The complete Civil War journal and selected letters of Thomas Wentworth Higginson
/ edited by Christopher Looby.
Chicago : University of Chicago Press, 2000.

[RockCityGuard]

Re: Route Step?

From Casey's School of the Company:

To march the column in route and to execute
the movements incident thereto.

311.The swiftness of the route step will be one hundred and ten steps in a minute; this swiftness will be habitually maintained in columns in route, when the roads and ground may permit.
312. The company being at a halt, and supposed to constitute a subdivision of a column, when the instructor shall wish to cause it to march in the route step, he will command:


1. Column, forward. 2. Guide, left (or right.)
3. Route step. 4. MARCH.

313. At the command march, repeated by the captain, the two ranks will step off together; the rear rank will take in marching, by shortening a few steps, a distance of one pace (twenty-eight inches) from the rank preceding, which distance will be computed from the breasts of the men in the rear rank, to the knapsacks of the men in the front rank. The men, without further command, will immediately carry their arms at will, as indicated in the S.S. No. 228 or they may sling them on their backs muzzle up. They will no longer be required to march in the cadence pace, or with the same foot, or to remain silent. The files will march at ease; but care will be taken to prevent the ranks from intermixing, the front rank from getting in advance of the guide, and the, rear rank from opening to too great a distance.
314. The company marching in the route, step, the instructor will cause it to change direction, which will be executed without formal commands, on a simple caution from the captain; the rear rank will come up to change direction in the same manner as the front rank. Each rank will conform itself, although in the route step, to the principles which have been prescribed for the change in closed ranks, with this difference only; that the pivot man, instead of taking steps of nine, will take steps of fourteen inches, in order to clear the wheeling point.

Cooper's Infantry Manual doesn't specify:

To march in column of route, and to execute the movements incident thereto.

The length of the route step is twenty-eight inches, and ninety in a minute.

The company supposed to constitute part of a column at a halt.

COLUMN FORWARD, GUIDE LEFT (or RIGHT) ROUTE STEP-MARCH.-At the word MARCH, the ranks step off together; the rear-rank takes, in marching, a distance of one pace from the front-rank; the men carry their arms at will, and are not required to keep silence or to march in the cadenced step; but the ranks are not to intermix, or to open at too great a distance.

From Charles Sprague Article on Gettysburg as it dawned for a soldier at Gettysburg. "Military Life as Seen from the Ranks of the Army"

"...written for us by Co. Charles E. Sprague, now secretary of the Union Dime Savings Institution, of New York, who served at Gettysburg in the ranks of the Forty-fourth New York regiment..."

And now we swing along the rough Virginia roads in route step. There is very little nonsense, talk or skylarking. We have long since got beyond that stage of our education and don't waste any strength in those ways. We keep approximately in our fours, but very loosely. Our "guns" slant over our right or left shoulder. We might 'sling' them by the leather strap, but I have seldom seen that done. Apparently the weight is easiest carried on the shoulder, where a slight shifting eases the muscles. The officers interfere very little with us and command as little as possible. They want their breath too, for other purposes and understand that too much fussy meddling won't go down with us. Not that we should openly "kick," but the officer would find that he was thus losing his hold on the men.

[GeraldTodd]

Re: Route Step?

Interesting, the only folks I've ever heard pronounce "oblique" as "O-BLIKE" are the same folks that say CALvary instead of CAValry. Otherwise it's been "O-BLEEK." 'Course, in math class it was always "Ob-leek" with a short O, a match to "Ob-toose" which brings us back to CAL-vary. :)