Vals Kilmer (like "attorneys general"?)

[Barbara Need]

>The Surgeon General is always addressed as General.

I believe that the Surgeon General actually holds the rank of General
in the Merchant Marine. I remember seeing Koop in uniform.

As far as I know, the Attorney General holds no military rank.

Barbara Need
UChicago

>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" <preston at MSU.EDU> 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
>
>------------------------------------------------------------
>The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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