"a nation who has ..."?

[Joel S. Berson]

At 10/26/2007 02:28 PM, Arnold M. Zwicky wrote:
>On Oct 26, 2007, at 10:26 AM, Joel  Berson wrote:
>
>>What do the experts say about --
>>
>>In a trial for invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of
>>emotional distress by protestors at the funeral of an Iraq War
>>marine, a defendant said "He's fighting for a nation who has made God
>>a No. 1 enemy."
>>
>>Who vs. that?
>
>"that" (or "which") is standard, but relative "who" is not
>infrequently used with heads referring to human institutions,
>organizations, etc.: "a company who cares about you".  an actual cite:
>
>When Zucker telegraphed the German firm who made and packed his
>special rocket fuel, he discovered that the Nazis had banned its export.
>   (Christopher Turner, "Letter Bombs", _Cabinet_ 23 (Fall 2006), p. 29)
>
>i find the usage jarring enough that i'm inclined to notice it when
>it goes past me, but i haven't been collecting examples
>systematically.  and i don't know anything about the history or the
>spead of the usage.  (so i tend to think of it as a recent
>development, or a recently spreading one, but i'm probably wrong.)
>
>not in MWDEU, apparently.
>
>>Has vs. have?
>
>only "has".

Well, with "nation who" I somehow wanted "have".  Interesting, to me
-- subconscious association of "who" with people, and thus plural?

And, I assume, not "has" but "have" in Britain?

Joel

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