atw: Re: formulas or formulae [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

I think problems arise when we try to impose a universal rule like "never 
use foreign plurals", rather than taking each case on its merits. It's 
easy to find examples where the foreign plural is so well established that 
switching to the English form might distract or annoy readers, if not 
confusing them totally. 

In the case of 'formulas' vs 'formulae' I'd agree with other 
correspondents that it's time to go with 'formulas'. But I'd find it a bit 
jarring if I had to respond to 'selection criterions'. 

If you're on a mission to eliminate Latin plurals from English, you have 
to make a choice whether you're going to stick your neck out and risk the 
jarring effect because you want to advance your cause - and whether you 
believe doing so would actually help that cause. George Bernard Shaw 
decided to drop apostrophes from possessives, but his efforts don't seem 
to have led to any change. (On the other hand, I believe it's worth the 
effort to avoid sexist and offensive language even where it might seem 
slightly jarring at first - and I think we have made a little progress in 
that area, though sometimes writers are over-zealous or clumsy.)

James's examples are interesting, though a little off the track for 
technical writers. I'd say the 'concerto grosso' example would depend, as 
in most cases, on the audience. You'd be unlikely to use this term in the 
plural except for an audience of musical 'cognoscenti' (or 
'cognoscentos'?), who presumably could be expected to be comfortable with 
'concerti grossi' (I think that's the Italian plural?). For a general 
audience, it'd probably just appear as an item on a program(me), so would 
be singular anyway. 

Plurals of foreign phrases often lead to ridiculous choices. I think I may 
have mentioned on this list before that my father once came across 'quids 
pro quo' when editing a document. And what's the plural of 'curriculum 
vitae'? If you use a Latin plural you have to know whether more than one 
person's work histories are involved - it could be 'curricula vitae' or 
'curricula vitarum' (I think those are the correct forms - I'm sure 
someone will correct me if not).

As for 'cherubim' and 'seraphim' - well, I can't see any reason to use 
these forms, but I'm open to persuasion that there could be audiences for 
which they'd be appropriate. (If so, I'm unlikely to be in any such 
audience.) But how would you write the equivalent of "the cherubs' 
revenge"? Is there a genitive plural form in Hebrew?

Howard




James Hunt <jameshunt@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> 
Sent by: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
06/11/2007 09:00 PM
Please respond to
austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx


To
austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
cc

Subject
atw: Re: formulas or formulae [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]






Established usage is a good guide, but it won't always result in
adoption of a +s plural form, and can lead to complications.

Example 1
--------------

ABC announcers are using "concertos" as a plural, instead of
"concerti". Fine, but what is to be the plural form of "concerto
grosso"?

Example 2
--------------

Theological and biblical texts use the phrase "cherubim and
seraphim". (Maybe - I haven't read any for a long time...) Books on
painting refer to "cherubs". So: one plural form (Hebrew) in one
context, and another form (English) in a different context.

JH




**************************************************
To post a message to austechwriter, send the message to 
austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

To subscribe to austechwriter, send a message to 
austechwriter-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with "subscribe" in the Subject field.

To unsubscribe, send a message to austechwriter-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 
"unsubscribe" in the Subject field.

To search the austechwriter archives, go to 
www.freelists.org/archives/austechwriter

To contact the list administrator, send a message to 
austechwriter-admins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
**************************************************

Other related posts: