Importance of Using Apostrophe in the Road Signs of Birmingham City, UK
The Debate Between Conventional Grammarians and Plain English Campaigners
The decision of Birmingham City Council (BCC) to drop apostrophes on its road signs are being debated in newspaper columns, Websites and in blogs. Birmingham is the second largest city in UK. The Apostrophe Protection Society finds fault with BCC for dropping apostrophe on its road signs. The BCC Counselor Martin Mullaney justifies the council's decision to follow the recommendations of Plain English Society and Plain Language Commission. According to Mullaney the apostrophe sign was causing confusion while referring to place names in Birmingham such as Kings Norton, Druids Heath and St Pauls Square.
Why We Use Apostrophe?
The apostrophe (inverted comma) is the most used English punctuation mark. We employ apostrophe as a contraction i.e., to shorten a word or phrase for convenience (example: cannot = can't; I have = I've; and It is = It's). The present debate does not point out this kind of use of the punctuation mark - apostrophe. We also employ this particular punctuation mark to show the possessives of all nouns and many pronouns. By possessives we mean to say that someone possesses something or something belongs to someone. For example the phrases indicate someone's possession : Paul's Square (Paul's possession), King's Heath and King's Norton (King's possessions). Since Pauls Square or Kings Norton are places, they cannot be marked as someone's possessions. If you write the phrase in plain English and by omitting apostrophe people will not get confused.
The Debate Hots Up
The Plain English Society and Plain Language supports this view. The main argument in favor Plain English is that English is an evolving language. The application of computer demands drastic changes in the use of punctuation marks. The conventional grammarians does not allow the required evolution. They want to protect all conventions prevailed few decades ago. They cannot tolerate any moderation to suit modern English usage. Note the statement from John Richards, chairman of the Apostrophe Protection Society: "It seems retrograde, dumping down really. It is setting a very bad example for kids." According to him apostrophes enrich the English language. The plain English campaigners defend their stand by stating that if you prefer to use one or more street name (s) without apostrophe then there is no need to bother about punctuation. Punctuation should become an issues while using or understanding street names.
Reference Sources
1) Its a catastrophe for the apostrophe in Britain by Meera Selva http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=68675
2) City drops apostrophes from signs http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_midlands/7858853.stm
3) A council in UK has come under fire after it announced that apostrophes should not feature on its road signs. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/UK_city_banishes_apostrophes_from_road_signs/articleshow/4055336.cms
Published by Muthusamy R
A freelance writer and Internet marketer. Muthusamy is passionate about writing and enjoys writing quality articles, benefiting a vast majority of readers. I absolutely love ASSOCIATED CONTENT (AC) sinc... View profile
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- The apostrophe (inverted comma) is the most used English punctuation mark.
- According to Mullaney the apostrophe sign was causing confusion while referring to place names.
- John Richards, from Apostrophe Protection Society: "It seems retrograde, dumping down really. "
1 Comments
Post a CommentInteresting. You have recorded an event in the process of language evolution.