Vals Kilmer (like "attorneys general"?)

[Wilson Gray]

"Skeptical"? How can this be? Wikipedia, that vaunted repository of all
human knowledge ;-), believes it. However, I read it somewhere else maybe
fifty years ago and the story wasn't new, then. And, as we know, stories
that are around long enough tend to become regarded as "true."

In other words, I'm not quite skeptical, but I don't think that this story
is necessarily true, either.

-Wilson

On 3/27/06, Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
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> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at YAHOO.COM>
> Subject:      Re: Vals Kilmer (like "attorneys general"?)
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> I'm skeptical.
>
>   JL
>
> Wilson Gray <hwgray at GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>   ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> -----------------------
> Sender: American Dialect Society
> Poster: Wilson Gray
> Subject: Re: Vals Kilmer (like "attorneys general"?)
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Know why a major general is outranked by a lieutenant general, though a
> major outranks a lieutenant? Supposedly, the reason is that a major
> general
> was originally a sergeant-major general and lieutenants outrank sergeants.
>
> -Wilson
>
> On 3/27/06, Jonathan Lighter wrote:
> >
> > ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> > -----------------------
> > Sender: American Dialect Society
> > Poster: Jonathan Lighter
> > Subject: Re: Vals Kilmer (like "attorneys general"?)
> >
> >
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------=
> ------
> >
> > "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 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
> > > >
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> > >
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