When does a noun have an upper case first letter? Is there a rule on the issue? There was a time when school children learned that all proper nouns began with an upper case letter and that was the end of the story. On this issue German is clear - all nouns begin with an upper case letter.
In English it's clear, 'Dublin', 'Mary', 'Ryanair' begin with an upper case letter. And of course the first letter at the beginning of a sentence and the pronoun 'I' are always upper case.
So why do people spell 'century' or 'anniversary' with an upper case? If people spell 'plumber' with a lower case then why spell 'doctor' with an upper case?
It seems in English some sort of ideological influence plays a role in what we do. If 'teacher' is lower case, surely then 'priest', 'pope' and 'cardinal' should also be lower case. Should 'Gospel' be upper case? It would seem so as it is a proper noun. So what should 'church' be? There is a school that says 'church' referring to the physical building is lower case but the institution is upper case. But again that has an ideological bias.
What does it say about the mind-set that spells 'church', 'pope' and 'council' with upper case and 'gospel' with lower case? Or those who spell 'laity' lower case and 'priesthood' upper case?
When is 'state' upper-cased and lower-cased?
See the large Green Party ad around Dublin these days with 'thousands' incorrectly spelt?
Language can be great fun.
In English it's clear, 'Dublin', 'Mary', 'Ryanair' begin with an upper case letter. And of course the first letter at the beginning of a sentence and the pronoun 'I' are always upper case.
So why do people spell 'century' or 'anniversary' with an upper case? If people spell 'plumber' with a lower case then why spell 'doctor' with an upper case?
It seems in English some sort of ideological influence plays a role in what we do. If 'teacher' is lower case, surely then 'priest', 'pope' and 'cardinal' should also be lower case. Should 'Gospel' be upper case? It would seem so as it is a proper noun. So what should 'church' be? There is a school that says 'church' referring to the physical building is lower case but the institution is upper case. But again that has an ideological bias.
What does it say about the mind-set that spells 'church', 'pope' and 'council' with upper case and 'gospel' with lower case? Or those who spell 'laity' lower case and 'priesthood' upper case?
When is 'state' upper-cased and lower-cased?
See the large Green Party ad around Dublin these days with 'thousands' incorrectly spelt?
Language can be great fun.
14 comments:
And you must not have a lot to worry about!
Thank you for your comment.
Not too sure about starting a single sentence paragraph with a coordinating conjunction and finshing the same sentence with a preposition!
Wow, you are clever today. Why delete all those comments Michael?
Once again I am amused and saddened by the anonymous poster(s) who like to mock or jibe but are too frightened to identify themselves. Frightened is probably the wrong here. The anonymous posters are virtual peeping toms, getting their thrills from their negaive posting but lacking the courage of their convictions. I suspect these are clerical associates of the blog's author (or should that be Clerical associates...), by whatever their provenence they are ultimately vituperative cowards at heart. Are these the kind of people who are happy to enage in relentless moralizing in the pulpit or in the "religious" press where they are either talking to the choir or have no danger of being answerewd back? Free speech is a core value in a democratic society, but anonymous speech is not only valueless but dangerous. If the anonymous posters are not prepared to engage in debate, then shut up.
Michael,
Thank you for your comment.
Strong words but true words.
I don't know whether it is cowardice, loyalty or misplaced loyalty that prevents me from letting rip on the horrible anonymity that I have experienced within the ranks of the clerical institution.
Again, thank you for that comment.
What a sanctimonious, pompous git you are 'Michael'. I am the anonymous person who posted the two published comments. No 1 - I am female, which cuts me out of your little clerical group and No 2, staying anonymous is no different to you calling yourself 'Michael'. Is the readership supposed to know who 'Michael' is? Perhaps next time I will call myself 'Assumpta' or something equally interesting and that will keep you happy.
Anonmymous can call herself the Queen of Sheba or Prior of the Lower Monastery of Rusticanaria for all it matters. "It" could also have the courage to provide an identifiable and checkable email address to the blog owner as I do. Don't worry "Assumpta", I am not unhappy about you, just amused.
Glad to amuse you Michael. You sound like someone who does not have a lot of amusement in your life.
'Assumpta'
Readers of this blog should be aware that 'Michael Commane' is the blog author and 'Michael' is a reader.
There is something improper about anonymity and all its forms.
So much wrongdoing is done under the cover of secrecy, indeed, secrecy is a style of 'oxygen' that gives life to wrongdoing.
hi, new to the site, thanks.
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