Vals Kilmer (like "attorneys general"?)

[Jonathan Lighter]

"To my knowledge, no one ever calls the Surgeon General 'General.' 'Doctor' is used instead."

  Read all about it: http://www.cardozo.yu.edu/life/spring2003/generals/ .

  JL

Beverly Flanigan <flanigan at OHIO.EDU> wrote:
  ---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
Sender: American Dialect Society
Poster: Beverly Flanigan
Subject: Re: Vals Kilmer (like "attorneys general"?)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Surgeon General is always addressed as General.

At 01:34 PM 3/27/2006, you wrote:
>I think the question was about how attorneys general are addressed. When
>Alberto Gonzales appears before congress, is he addressed as General
>Gonzales? I think this happens at least sometimes.
>
>-Matt Gordon
>
>
>On 3/27/06 11:43 AM, "Dennis R. Preston"
wrote:
>
> > I guess I don't understand. If he is the attorney for general
> > matters, then he is a "general attorney," just like a court martial
> > is court (N) plus martial (adj) a "military court."
> >
> > dInIs
> >
>
> >> ~~~~~~~~~~~
> >> I've no beef with adjectives following nouns, a la francais. This still
> >> doesn't explain why we address this (general interest) attorney as
> >> "General" if it isn't meant as a rank.....?
> >> AM
> >>
> >>
> >>
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> >> W stands for >:< War ____Waste___Wiretaps____Witchhunts >:<
> >>
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> >>
> >> ------------------------------------------------------------
> >> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
> >
> >
> > --
> > Dennis R. Preston
> > University Distinguished Professor
> > Department of English
> > Morrill Hall 15-C
> > Michigan State University
> > East Lansing, MI 48824-1036 USA
> > Office: (517) 353-4736
> > Fax: (517) 353-3755
> >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------
> > The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>
>------------------------------------------------------------
>The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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