Intellectual 'PROPERTY'

From: Eric Smith <eric_at_brouhaha.com>
Date: Sun Jan 19 22:50:00 2003

Eric Chomko wrote:
> I dunno. I think that in the context where the term "Native American"
> is, the word "American" is always proceeded by a capitalized adjective.

I am unaware of any rule of spelling or grammar that causes a capitalized
adjective to have a different meaning than the same word without
capitalization. Of three dictionaries I've consulted, none give a special
meaning for "Native" as distinct from "native". Two of them imply that
"American" should be capitalized, but the third does not.

> Now I'm not sure about the forms that you've been looking at, but
> are you a native American or a Native American?

Yes, I am.
Received on Sun Jan 19 2003 - 22:50:00 GMT