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<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:RonButters@aol.com">RonButters@aol.com</a>
wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid:ceb.1a13fb66.3411cfc8@aol.com" type="cite"><font
face="arial,helvetica"><font family="SANSSERIF" color="#000000"
face="Geneva" size="2"><br>
In a message dated 9/6/07 2:20:58 PM, <a
class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:s-mufwene@UCHICAGO.EDU">s-mufwene@UCHICAGO.EDU</a>
writes:<br>
</font></font><font face="arial,helvetica"><font family="SANSSERIF"
color="#000000" face="Geneva" size="2">As my comment suggested, the
situation is more complex than this. Just to show how ridiculous it is
to insist that there is a "right" plural (or singular) for any of
these loan words, note that there is in English a singular variant of
CRITERION/CRITERIA: CRITERIUM, meaning a short bicycyle race, which
comes to us by way of French. I assume the plural is CRITERIUMS? Or if
we are being snobbish, should this one be CRITERIA as well?</font><br>
</font></blockquote>
<big>Ron:<br>
<br>
I can agree with you only partly. My electronic Random House
Webster's dictionary does not list "criterium" either as a separate
entry or a subentry to "criterion.' It does not even list it as an
alternative singular to "criterion." You don't of course say this
either, because you comment makes it clear that it is a separate word
with a different meaning. I doubt that the word "criterium" is commonly
used anyway, i.e., other than by people who are into bicycle racing. I
learned it from you and found it my electronic Encyclopedia Britannica;
the dictionary that comes with it specifies that it can be pronounced
either the French way or the English way (I suppose by analogy to
"criterion"). I suppose that for those who use "criteria" in the
singular, there is no confusion. "Criterium" is a separate word. Those
who want a specific singular for "criteria" probably know "criterion"
as the normative singular, although by analogy to "datum" they may
produce "criterium." I saw this for the first time in your posting. You
have a point if there is a pattern of people using "criterium" for
"criterion." Otherwise, I believe there is still room for deviation.
And deviations can ultimately evolve into a norm. The question is
whether we are already there. On the other hand, my RHW dictionary
corroborates your observation that many speakers use "criteria" in the
singular too, which I did not dispute at all in my earlier postings.<br>
<br>
Sali.<br>
</big>
<blockquote cite="mid:ceb.1a13fb66.3411cfc8@aol.com" type="cite"><font
face="arial,helvetica"><br>
<br>
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<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
**********************************************************
Salikoko S. Mufwene <a
class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:s-mufwene@uchicago.edu">s-mufwene@uchicago.edu</a>
Frank J. McLoraine Distinguished Service Professor
University of Chicago 773-702-8531; FAX 773-834-0924
Department of Linguistics
1010 East 59th Street
Chicago, IL 60637, USA
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://humanities.uchicago.edu/faculty/mufwene">http://humanities.uchicago.edu/faculty/mufwene</a>
**********************************************************
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