The concept of horn (from Latin bucīna ) has several uses and acceptances. It is, for example, a metal instrument in the shape of a trumpet , which has an embouchure to place the lips and speak from a distance. Horn is also an instrument that is sounded mechanically in automobiles and other vehicles.
In several countries , the part of the telephones to which the mouth must be approached to speak and the bell with which the sound in gramophones was reinforced is called a horn.
And all this without forgetting that in various parts of the world the term horn is used as a synonym for loudspeaker. This would be the case, for example, of Cuba.
On the other hand, horn is synonymous with the musical instrument known as the horn and the conch that produces a sound similar to that of the French horn.
In its most common use, the term horn (or claxon ) refers to the instrument composed of a rubber pear and a trumpet. When the pear is pressed, air comes out of the trumpet, creating sound. Currently, the mechanism has been replaced by a device that works using electrical energy.
This type of horn that we have mentioned is most commonly used in sports competitions. And when there is a football or basketball game, or any other sporting discipline, many fans go to it equipped with one of these gadgets with the clear objective of making noise and thus, through it, cheering up their team. team so that they can achieve victory.
In addition to all of the above, we cannot ignore the fact that we also find in our vocabulary the term honk, a verb that is closely related to the word at hand. And this verbal form is used to refer to the fact that someone in question is honking or is using it to speak.
We cannot forget either that one of the most important stars in the history of cinema turned a horn into his main hallmark. We are referring to Harpo, one of the mythical Marx brothers. And this figure, when establishing each of the traits of the characters that gave them international fame thanks to a multitude of comedies, determined that his character was going to be mute and that he would communicate with his surroundings through touches. that faced a speaker.
The car horn has become one of the main factors of noise or acoustic pollution . It is usually used indiscriminately, without respect for other people.
However, the function of the horn in vehicles should be to avoid possible accidents , warn those trying to enter the road about the position of the car, and signal traffic. Psychologists have warned that the horn is often used as a symbol of power or as a way to vent frustrations.