"Fair Use" Not in OED

[Dennis R. Preston]

Ron,

But wouldn't this compounding (and hence stress assignment) use have
followed from the establishment of the "term"? On the other hand,
that's a historical question (the one I had in mind primarily), and
you are quite right, learned colleague, to have guided David into
distinguishing the current uses by pointing out this difference.

dInIs

>In a message dated 2/15/06 4:17:31 AM, preston at MSU.EDU writes:
>
>
>>  David,
>>
>>  No distinction of the sort you seek whatsoever; the distinction is
>>  between "ordinary collocation" and "legal term."
>>
>>  dInIs
>>
>
>Well, yes, but David was right, I think. The "ordinary collocation" FAIR USE
>is an "adjective + noun" construction (cf. THE WHITE HOUSE, NOT THE YELLOW
>ONE), whereas the "legal term" FAIR USE is a compound noun (cf. THE
>WHITE HOUSE
>IS WHERE THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES DOES HIS EVIL WORK). It is
>culturally significant that FAIR USE as a compound is used in legal
>discourse, but
>grammatically FAIR USE is just like FAIR TRADE or FAIR BALL (or FOUL
>BALL). The
>source and use of the (opaque) term is incidental to its grammatical status.
>
>------------------------------------------------------------
>The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org


--
Dennis R. Preston
University Distinguished Professor
Department of English
15C Morrill Hall
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824
517-353-4736
preston at msu.edu

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org