Date:    Thu, 18 Jun 1998 08:07:54 +0000
<br>From:    Peter McGraw <pmcgraw[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]LINFIELD.EDU>
<br>Subject: Re: plural's - a new development?
<br>
<br>I wonder if they're trying to mark the voicedness of the plural
<br>morpheme in these environments. In any other context (that I can think
<br>of within about two minutes), the sequences -is, -os and -as would
<br>spell [Is], [)s] and [as] or [[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]s], respectively, rather than [iz], [oZ]
<br>and [az] or [[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]z], as they must be pronounced to indicate pluralization.
<br>In contrast, sequences spelled -es or -Cs would be pronounced the same
<br>whether or not the -s was a plural marker.
<br>
<br>Peter
<br>
<br>On Thu, 18 Jun 1998 08:56:28 -0400 Alan Baragona
<br><baragonasa[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]VAX.VMI.EDU> wrote:
<br>
<br>> Perhaps writers do this because, subconsciously at least, they are unsure of
<br>> whether the plural should add -s or -es (especially so with final -o) so
<br>> they instinctively "compromise" with an apostrophe.
<br>>
<br>>
<br>>
<br>> At 12:52 AM 6/18/98 -0400, Bryan Gick wrote:
<br>> >While I'm at it...
<br>> >
<br>> >I've been noticing something for the last few months that I can't
<br>> ignore >anymore: Lots of people seem to be using the orthographic
<br>> apostrophe-s >plural only after (orthographic?) vowels! A text will
<br>> typically have lots >and lots of standard -s plurals with one or two
<br>> -'s ones tossed in. So >far, all and only those words ending in a, o
<br>> and i get -'s, and I haven't >found any final u's or syllabic
<br>> (non-silent) e's from people who do this. >
<br>> >Examples - Here's the grand total of -'s plurals I've seen since I
<br>> started >noting them (omitting proper nouns, abbreviations and
<br>> acronyms): >
<br>> >1. In an insect repellent ad
<br>> (http://www.outdoor-adventures.com/anglers/ >
<br>> forums/ontbuysell/messages/463.htm): >-'s: mosquito's (x3), patio's
<br>> >-s:  bugs, insects, lotions, sprays, humans, animals, waves, decks,
<br>> doors, >     wholesalers, distributors.
<br>> > >2. Web page for a renovations company
<br>> (http://www.eagle123.com/Patio.htm): >-'s: patio's
<br>> >-s:  renovations, carports (x2), enclosures (x2), covers, rooms. >
<br>> >3. Local air service webpage >
<br>> (http://www.akcache.com/bettleslodge/index.html): >-'s: jacuzzi's
<br>> >-s:  languages, places, amenities, rooms, pilots, floats, adventures,
<br>> > years, maps, rafts, canoes, stoves, bags, trips (x3), rates. >
<br>> >4. Personal email from a 13-year-old family member: >-'s: extra's
<br>> >-s:  guys (x2), rides >
<br>> >5. Department store poster ad (women's "Sunsations" bathing
<br>> suits): >-'s: bra's
<br>> >-s:  contours, ruffles, colors, prints, stripes...[there were more but
<br>> I >     stopped transcribing].
<br>> > >So, am I losing my mind?
<br>> >Bryan >
<br>
<br>----------------------
<br>Peter A. McGraw
<br>Linfield College
<br>McMinnville, Oregon
<br>pmcgraw[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]linfield.edu
<br>