Birmingham drops apostrophes - Page 2

pshrynk · 01-30-2009, 11:52 AM

Here in La Crosse, we have State Road and State Street. In different parts of town, going the same direction. and twelve different names for the road that runs the north -south length of town.

HarryT · 01-30-2009, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tompe

Well if you have both "Kings Street" and "King's Street" you have a problem. Language used on signs or language used in advertising have always been simplified or adapted for the purpose. To me the change sounds like a well motivated and good change that will have positive consequences.

In the UK, though (and I'm sure the same is true in Sweden too) many place names reflect local history, and the residents are very "attached" to them. I can understand why a change like this would upset people.

Most people who need to "navigate" to a particular place use postcodes rather than road names, precisely because of the potential confusion which similar-sounding names can cause. A UK postcode is normally unique to about half a dozen houses in a residential street.

astra · 01-31-2009, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

I see the 'dumbing down' theory doesn't apply only to the U.S...........

We used to be 10 years behind you. Apparently we are gaining on you very quickly.

tompe · 01-31-2009, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Most people who need to "navigate" to a particular place use postcodes rather than road names, precisely because of the potential confusion which similar-sounding names can cause. A UK postcode is normally unique to about half a dozen houses in a residential street.

A postcode area in Sweden is much bigger than half a dozen houses.

But I was more commenting cases were you need to search just for the name in a larger area. Like in the emergency service scenario. Also how do you say the apostrophe in the name when giving the address?

And people will know that the spelling can be simplified so the history is kind of preserved anyway.

HarryT · 01-31-2009, 06:37 AM

I agree that it makes a lot of sense to drop apostrophes from such things as databases used by the emergency services. We are, however, talking about road signs here, and there's really no reason to drop them from those.

tompe · 01-31-2009, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I agree that it makes a lot of sense to drop apostrophes from such things as databases used by the emergency services. We are, however, talking about road signs here, and there's really no reason to drop them from those.

There was a "sub-thread" about emergency service and computer system.

But it would be a problem if the road sign did not say the same as the printed address an emergency vehicle gets.

Over · 01-31-2009, 06:42 AM

Apostrophe Protection Society? There's one?

It really looks like dumbing down. I guess that if it's not King's Land, it would be Land of the Kings or Kings' Land. Maybe a simple 2 hour lessons to the guys using the emergency database would be better than rubbing off apostrophes.

HarryT · 01-31-2009, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Over

Apostrophe Protection Society? There's one?

If there wasn't, I'd create one

.

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01-30-2009, 11:52 AM	#16
pshrynk Beepbeep n beebeep, yeah! Posts: 11,726 Karma: 8255450 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: La Crosse, Wisconsin, aka America's IceBox Device: iThingie, KmkII, I miss Zelda!	Here in La Crosse, we have State Road and State Street. In different parts of town, going the same direction. and twelve different names for the road that runs the north -south length of town.

01-31-2009, 06:37 AM	#20
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I agree that it makes a lot of sense to drop apostrophes from such things as databases used by the emergency services. We are, however, talking about road signs here, and there's really no reason to drop them from those.

01-31-2009, 06:42 AM	#22
Over Wizard Posts: 1,462 Karma: 6061516 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cascais, Portugal Device: Kindle PW, Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2", OnePlus 6	Apostrophe Protection Society? There's one? It really looks like dumbing down. I guess that if it's not King's Land, it would be Land of the Kings or Kings' Land. Maybe a simple 2 hour lessons to the guys using the emergency database would be better than rubbing off apostrophes.

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