A Few Words on Proper Nouns and Adjectives

[Ward]

Hello Friends!

I'd like to take a moment to remind everyone that in conventional English writing, all proper nouns and adjectives are supposed to be capitalized.

I bring this to your attention because I've noticed it's become quite trendy on this forum to deliberately not capitalize certain words that should in fact be capitalized. It seems some members think that not capitalizing words like "Jew," "Christianity," and "Israel" is a sly means to display feelings of disdain and stick it to the people associated with the terms.

Suffice it to say it's a very un-Germanic means of expression. It's an assault on the long established rules of the Anglo-Saxon language, and it tarnishes the image and credibility of this forum whose expressed raison d'être is Germanic preservation. It doesn't make you a "Jew" if you capitalize the "J," it just means you're following written protocol. I'm a pretty laid back guy and I understand that people are going to make mistakes in their writing, but to willfully abuse our language for the sake of cheap insults is shameful and unacceptable.

Which brings me to another issue... How about we give the "Holocaust™" thing a rest for a while? I actually thought it was pretty funny the first couple times I saw it, but its habitual overuse is getting annoying.

Well, that's all I wanted to say. Thank you for your attention to these matters.

Have a wonderful day.

/Torchbearer


P.S. Remember to eat healthy, get plenty of sleep and exercise, and stay away from drugs. The mind is a terrible thing to waste.

[Jäger]

In German addressing a person in de-capitalized pronouns is a form of expressing disrespect to that person.
If the English language does not know such a thing, then it is certainly misused. I agree, and I will try to refrain from it.

[Ward]

In German addressing a person in de-capitalized pronouns is a form of expressing disrespect to that person.

You mean like "Sie" vs. "du"?

Anyway, there really is no tradition in English for deliberately not capitalizing proper nouns or adjectives. Outside of Negro and Mexican gang graffiti, this forum and ones like Stormfront are the only places I've seen it done. Which is actually quite sad really.

[Jäger]

You mean like "Sie" vs. "du"?

Well, yes, or just "Sie" vs. "sie"

[Wulfram]

Suffice it to say it's a very un-Germanic means of expression. It's an assault on the long established rules of the Anglo-Saxon language...

Firstly, show me the part in the Germanic rule book that says this.

I have a tremendous respect for my language, thank you.
I choose to not capitalize these words because I do not regard them as legitimate, which is my right on this forum.
But you dont see me making a ridiculous thread calling others out to do the same.

A mod explained in a recent post that any form of expression goes here. Please respect this.

Torchbearer, you have resorted to childishness in accusing others of being childish.

Here is how your post should have been written:

Hello Friends!

I'd like to take a moment to remind everyone that in conventional English writing, all proper nouns and adjectives are supposed to be capitalized.

I bring this to your attention because I've noticed the tendency on this forum to deliberately not capitalize certain words that should in fact be capitalized.

Well, that's all I wanted to say. Thank you for your attention to these matters.

Have a wonderful day.

/Torchbearer

[SpearBrave]

I will say that is it is bad English, but I don't believe it started with "gangsta" thing. I have been doing this on purpose long before there were Internet forums and maybe even bloods or crips.

Since in writing you cannot use expression as you can with your voice. I have used this as a expression of disdain IE " obama " or "clinton" instead of "Obama" or "Clinton". To purposely un-capitalize is in fact a way to disrespect hence the reason for using it. I do disrespect the things I use it on because they don't have any respect for me.

Language is constantly changing. Since the Internet and texting people are trying to express themselves in different ways.

[SaxonPagan]

I’ve always found this forum to have an excellent literary standard and cannot commend highly enough our non-native English speakers whose use of the language is quite exemplary!

As regards some of our more subtle ways of making a point, Torchbearer, why not leave that to individual posters to decide? You clearly have your methods of being rude (as shown above) and others will have theirs but I find the use of non-capitals is one of the milder options, to be honest. How this could possibly rile anyone outside of the groups concerned who, one assumes, would not be on here to read it in the first place, I really don’t know.

For the record, I don’t actually non-capitalise myself but I do systematically write Holocaust™ when referring to a dubious event that has been hijacked by one particular group. I used to put things like “the alleged Holocaust” or similar but found this long-winded and it often interrupted the flow of the sentence. So I now use Holocaust™ solely as a more concise alternative and not with the aim of being funny (though I’m glad you initially found it amusing).

[Méldmir]

Some people don't know all the rules in English, so don't take for granted it is to attack. In Scandinavian languages we always say "tysk =(German)", "jude (=Jew)", but we do say "Tyskland (=Germany)" and "Israel". At least that is what is correct. So some people might not have known it's different in English, but now they know. Others are just lazy as well.

[Nachtengel]

^ True, this could be an inter-language cultural gap, not necessarily intentional.

German adjectives — including those of nationality — are NOT capitalized. In English, it is correct to write "the American writer" or "a German car." In German, adjectives are not capitalized, even if they refer to nationality: der amerikanische Präsident (the American president), ein deutsches Bier (a German beer). The only exception to this rule is when an adjective is part of a species name, a legal, geographic or historical term; an official title, certain holidays, or common expression: der Zweite Weltkrieg (the Second World War), der Nahe Osten (the Middle East), die Schwarze Witwe (the black widow [spider]), Regierender Bürgermeister ("ruling" mayor), der Weiße Hai (the great white shark), der Heilige Abend (Christmas Eve).

http://german.about.com/library/weekly/aa020919b.htm

I know it's different in English, of course, although probably sometimes I make mistakes and capitalize or not capitalize a word but it's not intentional. I've always wondered whether 'white' and 'black' should be capitalized in English for instance. Maybe expert linguists can clarify.

Although correct spelling won't change the 'dissing' sentiment towards some foreign folk. Respect is earned, and some races and ethnicities simply haven't done anything to make us hold them in high regard, quite on the contrary.

[Frau Holle]

Language is constantly changing. Since the Internet and texting people are trying to express themselves in different ways.

Unfortunately, the Internet and texting have changed our language for the worst, not for the better. If we want to preserve the ways of our ancestors, we must reject this style of expression and act as examples to the next generations.