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Thu 4 Apr, 2013 11:49 am
Correct me if I am wrong, please.
Sometimes using an adjective or a noun can make a huge difference:
production line = a line where things are produced
productive live = a line that produces things effectively
How about other noun/adjective pairs, such as:
geographic magazine
geography department
Shouldn't it be geography magazine?
Why do we say physics student but medical student?
In cases where the difference is not obvious (production/productive), how do I know which one to use?
Certainly some aspects of vocabulary are arcane--you just have to learn them. However, you are incorrect in that one can say a geography magazine or a geographic magazine. The geography magazine with which most Americans are familiar is National Geographic.
@Setanta,
Quote:The geography magazine with which most Americans are familiar is National Geographic.
Every dictionary I checked (and I have the unabridged Oxford) says geographic is an adjective, so national geographic by itself means nothing. National geographic what? Maps? Books? Classes? Courses? Schools? Reports? Data? Information? etc.
@Doubtful,
It's not about geography.
But it helps to remind Americans that there is a whole world out there.
@Doubtful,
National Geographic magazine. Where's the mystery here?
@Ragman,
Quote:National Geographic magazine. Where's the mystery here?
Perhaps if you read the whole thread you would understand the mystery. Why is it national geographic magazine and not national geography magazine?
@Doubtful,
Much ado about nothing.
Perhaps because the magazine's info contained in it is geographic in nature.
On a larger matter, why is it not called international geographic?
@Doubtful,
because "Geographic" in that title means "A practice of geography"
Your dictionaries are incomplete or out of date. Do they contain "tweet" or"bundle" ?
@Ragman,
if we get Apisa in here it can go on for several pages Ill bet.
@Ragman,
It is the Journal of The National Geographic Society.
@farmerman,
Quote:because "Geographic" in that title means "A practice of geography"
Your dictionaries are incomplete or out of date. Do they contain "tweet" or"bundle" ?
I'm not familiar with tweet or bundle so I suppose not. May I ask where you found that definition? I have looked in all online dictionaries I have found and all of them list geographic as an adjective.
Lolling about reading a2k - geez -
geographic indicates the content will be a result of graphics, in this case, photographics.
Geography is a wider pursuit.
@Doubtful,
Quote:I have looked in all online dictionaries I have found and all of them list geographic as an adjective.
That's not too surprising, as it is an adjective.
But graphic can be a noun.
Let's just find and shoot some geographical sumbitch and be done with it.
I am not going to answer any more threads from this joker.
@Setanta,
Who's the joker? Me? So you blame me for all those who do not read the thread and just pick random remarks to reply to, getting the whole thread side-tracked? It's a pity if you no longer answer my questions because you were the only one who answered the
original question: "
Certainly some aspects of vocabulary are arcane--you just have to learn them."
@Doubtful,
here's a flash: who cares?!
@Doubtful,
here's a flash: who cares?!
@Ragman,
An Apisa question; If there is nothing to modify, does an adjective even exist?
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