Life In 19x19

People also argue about whether Go/go should be capitalized. Some words like poker are names of popular games, and are sometimes not capitalized. Usually when a new game comes out, it is capitalized. Should Go/go be lowercase as it becomes more popular? Is it still a proper noun, or is it the name of a common activity? I don't really know.

What do you suggest, John? Go table?

[ for a floor board]

My own habit is to say something like 'traditional go board' or 'the old type of Japanese boards'. This conveys the extra implication that you don't need to have such a board nowadays. I'm sure people in general have a sense that you need to buy the right equipment to do certain Oriental martial arts, and they might feel at first that go has a similar mentality. Fortunately taiji swept away much of the mystique for martial arts, and we can do the same for go.

People also argue about whether Go/go should be capitalized.

And some people also argue whether it should be 'capitalised' (-ise for words from Latin, -ize for Greek).

I go for uncapitalised go. In general, majuscules seem to be waning everywhere, but I was still startled this morning to see ceo instead of CEO.

John Fairbairn wrote:

What do you suggest, John? Go table?

[ for a floor board]

My own habit is to say something like 'traditional go board' or 'the old type of Japanese boards'. This conveys the extra implication that you don't need to have such a
board nowadays.

That works.

Fortunately taiji swept away much of the mystique for martial arts

It did? This is news to me. On the other hand, taiji is Chinese and Chinese culture in general seems to obsess a lot less about equipment.

John Fairbairn wrote:

People also argue about whether Go/go should be capitalized.

And some people also argue whether it should be 'capitalised' (-ise for words from Latin, -ize for Greek).

I had always assumed (maybe incorrectly) that "capitalise" was from "British English", whereas "capitalize" was from "American English". Another one I've heard before is discrepancy between having one or two "l" characters before "ing" for certain words (eg. labelling vs. labeling).

Kirby wrote:

John Fairbairn wrote:

People also argue about whether Go/go should be capitalized.

And some people also argue whether it should be 'capitalised' (-ise for words from Latin, -ize for Greek).

I had always assumed (maybe incorrectly) that "capitalise" was from "British English", whereas "capitalize" was from "American English".

Common misconception.

Koroviev wrote:

Common misconception.

Would you like to elaborate?

Webster's dictionary seems to think that "capitalize" is an acceptable spelling: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/capitalize

It also says that "capitalise" is the "British version of capitalize": http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictiona ... 1305147225

Kirby wrote:People also argue about whether Go/go should be capitalized.

Pardon my ignorance about the English language, but why should it be? Is chess, bridge, etc? I would have never thought of writing "Go" instead of "go", but then again my mother tongue is Finnish (and in Finnish it is written in lowercase).

tj86430 wrote:

Kirby wrote:People also argue about whether Go/go should be capitalized.

Pardon my ignorance about the English language, but why should it be? Is chess, bridge, etc? I would have never thought of writing "Go" instead of "go", but then again my mother tongue is Finnish (and in Finnish it is written in lowercase).

If I invented a game and made up a name for it - say "Kirbgame", it would be a proper name for the game, and should be capitalized. When something becomes a common activity ("playing chess"), in my opinion, it starts showing up in lowercase.

I think the same thing happens with store products, sometimes. We don't capitalize "tissue", but when the "Kleenex" brand came out, it was a proper name for the product, and was capitalized. "Kleenex" is such a common brand for tissue that, whether it's correct or not, I've started to see it used synonymously with the word "tissue". In turn, I've started to see kleenex uncapitalized, as well.

It seems to me - and this is just my hypothesis - that when a proper noun starts to become commonplace, it starts being seen with a non-capitalized spelling.

Kirby wrote:

Koroviev wrote:

Common misconception.

Would you like to elaborate?

Webster's dictionary seems to think that "capitalize" is an acceptable spelling: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/capitalize

It also says that "capitalise" is the "British version of capitalize": http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictiona ... 1305147225

Both are correct in British English now, but (depending on word origin) -ize endings were once the standard in British English. This has gradually changed, and people have come to believe it's an American innovation. Grammar snobs occasionally jump on it as some kind of vulgar Americanism, when in fact it's not.

But as I say, both are now considered correct here, unless perhaps you are over 100 years old or work for the OED.

(This depends on the word though, some, like advertise, are never spelt with a zed.)

Koroviev wrote:...
Both are correct in British English now, but (depending on word origin) -ize endings were once the standard in British English. This has gradually changed, and people have come to believe it's an American innovation. Grammar snobs occasionally jump on it as some kind of vulgar Americanism, when in fact it's not.
...

Interesting. I'm surprised to hear that "-ize" endings were once the standard in British English, and it has gradually changed because people believe it's an "American innovation", and not the other way around.

That's because, most of the time when I spell these types of words, I use "-ize", and thought that "-ise" was more common in British English. Even in this case, I used "capitalize", for example.

Koroviev wrote:/sense of humour bypass/

How is mentioning Lizard Lick not funny?!

But yeah, I don't know why I thought you were arguing with John instead of just joking.

tj86430 wrote:

Kirby wrote:People also argue about whether Go/go should be capitalized.

Pardon my ignorance about the English language, but why should it be? Is chess, bridge, etc? I would have never thought of writing "Go" instead of "go", but then again my mother tongue is Finnish (and in Finnish it is written in lowercase).

One reason to capitalize Go which is peculiar to English is that "go" is one of the most common English verbs, as in "to go to France" or "to go fishing." So calling the board game Go rather than go is a good way to convey what you mean. (In the final analysis, though, I have to agree with John... capitals are dying out.)

jts wrote:

tj86430 wrote:

Kirby wrote:People also argue about whether Go/go should be capitalized.

Pardon my ignorance about the English language, but why should it be? Is chess, bridge, etc? I would have never thought of writing "Go" instead of "go", but then again my mother tongue is Finnish (and in Finnish it is written in lowercase).

One reason to capitalize Go which is peculiar to English is that "go" is one of the most common English verbs, as in "to go to France" or "to go fishing." So calling the board game Go rather than go is a good way to convey what you mean. (In the final analysis, though, I have to agree with John... capitals are dying out.)

I would think that the noun meaning the game of go and the verb meaning movement from one place to another are easily distinguishable by context. (and if not, one can always clarify by using "game of go" or some other construct like that)

tj86430 wrote: I would think that the noun meaning the game of go and the verb meaning movement from one place to another are easily distinguishable by context. (and if not, one can always clarify by using "game of go" or some other construct like that)

The name go is a bit of a bummer on search engines etc though.