Re: Languages in Europe - Who understands what ?

From: Des Small (des.small_at_bristol.ac.uk)
Date: 12/01/04 

Date: Wed, 1 Dec 2004 14:18:41 GMT

The Reids <dontuse@fell-walker.co.uk> writes:

> Following up to Alan Harrison
>
> >That's one use of the apostrophe, but "its" (belonging to it) is
> >counter-intuitive for English speakers precisely because "apostrophe S" is
> >the possessive (genitive) of most nouns in the singular and some irregular
> >plural nouns ("the children's books", "the oxen's barn").
>
> While we are on grammar, how are we supposed to know when to use
> s'. Earls Court is believed to relate to two Earls, but no none is
> quite sure. so do I write Earl's Court or Earls' Court? How many
> Kings does King's Cross relate too. How many Barons in Barons'
> Court? Is this the most pointless bit of grammar?

Transport for London, which runs the tube, says "Earl's Court",
"King's Cross" and "Barons Court". If you're referring to the
stations, at least, then those are their names. Names are not
especially subject to grammar.

Des
is not at all subject to barons or earls 

-- 
"[T]he structural trend in linguistics which took root with the
International Congresses of the twenties and early thirties [...] had
close and effective connections with phenomenology in its Husserlian
and Hegelian versions." -- Roman Jakobson

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Languages in Europe - Who understands what ?
    ... Earls Court is believed to relate to two Earls, ... > Barons' Court? ... Is this the most pointless bit of grammar? ...
    (sci.lang)
  • Re: Languages in Europe - Who understands what ?
    ... so do I write Earl's Court or Earls' Court? ... >> Barons' Court? ... Is this the most pointless bit of grammar? ... discussing the unfortunate Cockney associations of the latter company!) ...
    (sci.lang)
  • Re: Languages in Europe - Who understands what ?
    ... While we are on grammar, how are we supposed to know when to use ... Earls Court is believed to relate to two Earls, ... Barons' Court? ...
    (sci.lang)
  • Re: Baron courts
    ... barons had a duty and a right to attend the King's Court or Curia ... Regis (of which they were the peers - which simply meant that they ... Palatine Earls and Bishops could create barons; ...
    (rec.heraldry)
  • Re: Baron courts
    ... barons had a duty and a right to attend the King's Court or Curia ... Regis (of which they were the peers - which simply meant that they ... Palatine Earls and Bishops could create barons; ...
    (rec.heraldry)
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