There are many instances in our language where quite simple words have multiple meanings that can be quite far away from each other and, unless the context is known, it can be quite difficult to “translate” the intended meaning.. This is even more apparent when more than one word is strung together in a phrase. Take the word curtain for example.
What Is A Curtain?
Here in North America, we can use this word in the English manner to mean lengths of textile cloth that we hang across our windows to keep light out or to stop people looking in; they also serve a decorative function. However, most of us call these our window drapes. In theatres, it is always the curtain that hides the stage when a performance is not taking place; in this case, the curtain divides the audience from the stage.
What Is A Wall?
Walls are constructed or put into place to enclose or divide open space. If the space is open air, we could substitute “fence” for “wall”. The phrase “curtain wall” originates from the massive, fortified stone ”fence” surrounding castles in medieval Europe. Today, we use the phrase to describe any non-load bearing wall within a roofed structure.
A partition wall on the other hand is a specific type of curtain wall that is used to isolate smaller areas within a larger built up space to make smaller individual rooms or areas. Although non-load bearing, partition walls are usually fixed in place and semi-permanent.
What Is A Room Divider?
A curtain wall used as a partition would normally only be termed as a room divider if it was not fixed in place but could be drawn across to close off space in a larger room and then drawn back to revert the room to its original size. Room dividers that convert a large ballroom into a series of smaller meeting rooms are likely to be a series of solid panels that can slide of fold up so that they can be opened or closed. However, in terms of sub-dividing an indoors pace, there is no reason why a Curtain Room Divider could not be used.
Such a Curtain Room Divider would probably be made from thicker textile than window drapes so as to be heavier and hang down vertically even if quite a strong draft is blowing onto it. The thicker material will stop the Curtain Room Divider from being “see through” and offer some sound absorption. It will probably be pleated so that when drawn open it can fold into itself and not require too much space.
