Is there a linguistic term for using a common noun as a proper noun?
In some situations, a common noun in a specific scenario is treated as a proper noun because it refers to a specific entity that satisfies the common noun.
Is there a special term for this phenomenon?
Examples:
"Go ask his father", said the teacher. vs "Go ask Father", said the mother.
and
"Most city halls have them", she replied. vs "City Hall has them", he stated.
nouns terminology proper-nouns linguistics
asked 10 hours ago
David CoffronDavid Coffron
1464
|
show 1 more comment
In some situations, a common noun in a specific scenario is treated as a proper noun because it refers to a specific entity that satisfies the common noun.
Is there a special term for this phenomenon?
Examples:
"Go ask his father", said the teacher. vs "Go ask Father", said the mother.
and
"Most city halls have them", she replied. vs "City Hall has them", he stated.
nouns terminology proper-nouns linguistics
asked 10 hours ago
David CoffronDavid Coffron
1464
It sounds like a form of metonymy. I think of the computerist's distinction between logical and physical devices. "His father" and "city halls" are logical devices; "Father" and "City Hall" are physical devices for which the name of a logical device associated with each is a suitable metonym. I am not particularly confident in this thought, which is why I am not posting it as an answer, yet. I'd appreciate correction.
– remarkl
9 hours ago
I see it more as substituting a title for a proper name, which (while possibly generic in normal use) is understood in context to represent a single, specific entity. And this title may effectively serve as the common usage. Consider: the Stadium or the Mall may be the only one in the town, or may be understood by some group as the primary one - the Mall vs the crappy mall.
– Davo
8 hours ago
Or this could be simple elision: Go ask (your) father and (our) City Hall has them.
– Davo
8 hours ago
Perhaps eponymy. My eponymous Father. The eponymous City Hall. The eponymous Steep Hill (a street in Lincoln, UK).
– Weather Vane
7 hours ago
@remarkl: It's fine for an answer to be wrong, and for people to suggest corrections/improvements to the answer in the comments below that answer. That said, you (and every other commenter, it seems) should post their answers as, well, answers - not as comments.
– V2Blast
57 mins ago
|
show 1 more comment
In some situations, a common noun in a specific scenario is treated as a proper noun because it refers to a specific entity that satisfies the common noun.
Is there a special term for this phenomenon?
Examples:
"Go ask his father", said the teacher. vs "Go ask Father", said the mother.
and
"Most city halls have them", she replied. vs "City Hall has them", he stated.
nouns terminology proper-nouns linguistics
asked 10 hours ago
David CoffronDavid Coffron
1464
In some situations, a common noun in a specific scenario is treated as a proper noun because it refers to a specific entity that satisfies the common noun.
Is there a special term for this phenomenon?
Examples:
"Go ask his father", said the teacher. vs "Go ask Father", said the mother.
and
"Most city halls have them", she replied. vs "City Hall has them", he stated.
nouns terminology proper-nouns linguistics
nouns terminology proper-nouns linguistics
asked 10 hours ago
David CoffronDavid Coffron
1464
asked 10 hours ago
David CoffronDavid Coffron
1464
edited 9 hours ago
David Coffron
asked 10 hours ago
David CoffronDavid Coffron
1464
asked 10 hours ago
David CoffronDavid Coffron
1464
asked 10 hours ago
David CoffronDavid Coffron
1464
1464
It sounds like a form of metonymy. I think of the computerist's distinction between logical and physical devices. "His father" and "city halls" are logical devices; "Father" and "City Hall" are physical devices for which the name of a logical device associated with each is a suitable metonym. I am not particularly confident in this thought, which is why I am not posting it as an answer, yet. I'd appreciate correction.
– remarkl
9 hours ago
I see it more as substituting a title for a proper name, which (while possibly generic in normal use) is understood in context to represent a single, specific entity. And this title may effectively serve as the common usage. Consider: the Stadium or the Mall may be the only one in the town, or may be understood by some group as the primary one - the Mall vs the crappy mall.
– Davo
8 hours ago
Or this could be simple elision: Go ask (your) father and (our) City Hall has them.
– Davo
8 hours ago
Perhaps eponymy. My eponymous Father. The eponymous City Hall. The eponymous Steep Hill (a street in Lincoln, UK).
– Weather Vane
7 hours ago
@remarkl: It's fine for an answer to be wrong, and for people to suggest corrections/improvements to the answer in the comments below that answer. That said, you (and every other commenter, it seems) should post their answers as, well, answers - not as comments.
– V2Blast
57 mins ago
|
show 1 more comment
It sounds like a form of metonymy. I think of the computerist's distinction between logical and physical devices. "His father" and "city halls" are logical devices; "Father" and "City Hall" are physical devices for which the name of a logical device associated with each is a suitable metonym. I am not particularly confident in this thought, which is why I am not posting it as an answer, yet. I'd appreciate correction.
– remarkl
9 hours ago
I see it more as substituting a title for a proper name, which (while possibly generic in normal use) is understood in context to represent a single, specific entity. And this title may effectively serve as the common usage. Consider: the Stadium or the Mall may be the only one in the town, or may be understood by some group as the primary one - the Mall vs the crappy mall.
– Davo
8 hours ago
Or this could be simple elision: Go ask (your) father and (our) City Hall has them.
– Davo
8 hours ago
Perhaps eponymy. My eponymous Father. The eponymous City Hall. The eponymous Steep Hill (a street in Lincoln, UK).
– Weather Vane
7 hours ago
@remarkl: It's fine for an answer to be wrong, and for people to suggest corrections/improvements to the answer in the comments below that answer. That said, you (and every other commenter, it seems) should post their answers as, well, answers - not as comments.
– V2Blast
57 mins ago
It sounds like a form of metonymy. I think of the computerist's distinction between logical and physical devices. "His father" and "city halls" are logical devices; "Father" and "City Hall" are physical devices for which the name of a logical device associated with each is a suitable metonym. I am not particularly confident in this thought, which is why I am not posting it as an answer, yet. I'd appreciate correction.
– remarkl
9 hours ago
It sounds like a form of metonymy. I think of the computerist's distinction between logical and physical devices. "His father" and "city halls" are logical devices; "Father" and "City Hall" are physical devices for which the name of a logical device associated with each is a suitable metonym. I am not particularly confident in this thought, which is why I am not posting it as an answer, yet. I'd appreciate correction.
– remarkl
9 hours ago
I see it more as substituting a title for a proper name, which (while possibly generic in normal use) is understood in context to represent a single, specific entity. And this title may effectively serve as the common usage. Consider: the Stadium or the Mall may be the only one in the town, or may be understood by some group as the primary one - the Mall vs the crappy mall.
– Davo
8 hours ago
I see it more as substituting a title for a proper name, which (while possibly generic in normal use) is understood in context to represent a single, specific entity. And this title may effectively serve as the common usage. Consider: the Stadium or the Mall may be the only one in the town, or may be understood by some group as the primary one - the Mall vs the crappy mall.
– Davo
8 hours ago
Or this could be simple elision: Go ask (your) father and (our) City Hall has them.
– Davo
8 hours ago
Or this could be simple elision: Go ask (your) father and (our) City Hall has them.
– Davo
8 hours ago
Perhaps eponymy. My eponymous Father. The eponymous City Hall. The eponymous Steep Hill (a street in Lincoln, UK).
– Weather Vane
7 hours ago
Perhaps eponymy. My eponymous Father. The eponymous City Hall. The eponymous Steep Hill (a street in Lincoln, UK).
– Weather Vane
7 hours ago
@remarkl: It's fine for an answer to be wrong, and for people to suggest corrections/improvements to the answer in the comments below that answer. That said, you (and every other commenter, it seems) should post their answers as, well, answers - not as comments.
– V2Blast
57 mins ago
@remarkl: It's fine for an answer to be wrong, and for people to suggest corrections/improvements to the answer in the comments below that answer. That said, you (and every other commenter, it seems) should post their answers as, well, answers - not as comments.
– V2Blast
57 mins ago
|
show 1 more comment
1 Answer
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It is following capitalization rules for nouns, and does not have a specific term.
The role of noun is not tied to the word, but to what it refers to. Words like mother and father are common nouns when the word "refers to people or things in general. When they refer to a particular person, they are a proper noun.
In your example, the capitalized use "Father" is being used as a proper noun as it identifies a particular being.
answered 8 hours ago
Colin GrossColin Gross
993
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It is following capitalization rules for nouns, and does not have a specific term.
The role of noun is not tied to the word, but to what it refers to. Words like mother and father are common nouns when the word "refers to people or things in general. When they refer to a particular person, they are a proper noun.
In your example, the capitalized use "Father" is being used as a proper noun as it identifies a particular being.
answered 8 hours ago
Colin GrossColin Gross
993
New contributor
Colin Gross is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
It is following capitalization rules for nouns, and does not have a specific term.
The role of noun is not tied to the word, but to what it refers to. Words like mother and father are common nouns when the word "refers to people or things in general. When they refer to a particular person, they are a proper noun.
In your example, the capitalized use "Father" is being used as a proper noun as it identifies a particular being.
answered 8 hours ago
Colin GrossColin Gross
993
New contributor
Colin Gross is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
It is following capitalization rules for nouns, and does not have a specific term.
The role of noun is not tied to the word, but to what it refers to. Words like mother and father are common nouns when the word "refers to people or things in general. When they refer to a particular person, they are a proper noun.
In your example, the capitalized use "Father" is being used as a proper noun as it identifies a particular being.
answered 8 hours ago
Colin GrossColin Gross
993
New contributor
Colin Gross is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
It is following capitalization rules for nouns, and does not have a specific term.
The role of noun is not tied to the word, but to what it refers to. Words like mother and father are common nouns when the word "refers to people or things in general. When they refer to a particular person, they are a proper noun.
In your example, the capitalized use "Father" is being used as a proper noun as it identifies a particular being.
answered 8 hours ago
Colin GrossColin Gross
993
New contributor
Colin Gross is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 7 hours ago
answered 8 hours ago
Colin GrossColin Gross
993
New contributor
Colin Gross is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 8 hours ago
Colin GrossColin Gross
993
answered 8 hours ago
Colin GrossColin Gross
993
993
New contributor
Colin Gross is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Colin Gross is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Colin Gross is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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It sounds like a form of metonymy. I think of the computerist's distinction between logical and physical devices. "His father" and "city halls" are logical devices; "Father" and "City Hall" are physical devices for which the name of a logical device associated with each is a suitable metonym. I am not particularly confident in this thought, which is why I am not posting it as an answer, yet. I'd appreciate correction.
– remarkl
9 hours ago
I see it more as substituting a title for a proper name, which (while possibly generic in normal use) is understood in context to represent a single, specific entity. And this title may effectively serve as the common usage. Consider: the Stadium or the Mall may be the only one in the town, or may be understood by some group as the primary one - the Mall vs the crappy mall.
– Davo
8 hours ago
Or this could be simple elision: Go ask (your) father and (our) City Hall has them.
– Davo
8 hours ago
Perhaps eponymy. My eponymous Father. The eponymous City Hall. The eponymous Steep Hill (a street in Lincoln, UK).
– Weather Vane
7 hours ago
@remarkl: It's fine for an answer to be wrong, and for people to suggest corrections/improvements to the answer in the comments below that answer. That said, you (and every other commenter, it seems) should post their answers as, well, answers - not as comments.
– V2Blast
57 mins ago