Ask a Question

(Create a thread)
Go Back   Spanish language learning forums > Spanish & English Languages > Grammar


Upper- or lowercase?

 

This is the place for questions about conjugations, verb tenses, adverbs, adjectives, word order, syntax and other grammar questions for English or Spanish.


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old October 28, 2010, 09:05 PM
Feliz Feliz is offline
Ruby
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 72
Native Language: American English
Feliz is on a distinguished road
Upper- or lowercase?

¡Ayuda! Something doesn't look right here. "Native Language: Inglés Americano" From the Spanish grammar that I am aware of already, I believe the "Americano" above should read: "americano" in this instance. Will someone please verify this for me? Gracias.
__________________

Reply With Quote
   
Get rid of these ads by registering for a free Tomísimo account.
  #2  
Old October 28, 2010, 10:17 PM
Rusty's Avatar
Rusty Rusty is offline
Señor Speedy
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 11,299
Native Language: American English
Rusty has a spectacular aura aboutRusty has a spectacular aura about
Names of languages are written in lowercase, except when they begin a sentence or appear in titles, menus, or lists. I believe this to be the case, but I couldn't find these rules in the official rulings.

For the 'Native Language:' field, which can be considered a menu or list item, I've mostly seen a capital letter used. And, if the name of your language is composed of two words, I would think that both should start with a capital letter.
A ver que opinan los demás.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old October 28, 2010, 11:30 PM
JPablo's Avatar
JPablo JPablo is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Southern California
Posts: 5,579
Native Language: Spanish (Castilian, peninsular)
JPablo is on a distinguished road
Well, in the official rules you have
6.7. Los nombres de tribus o pueblos y de lenguas, así como los gentilicios: el pueblo inca, los mayas, el español, los ingleses.

I think, though, that the influence of English on this subject is ever more prevalent... and while Spaniards tend to be more "conservative" on that, my perception is that the trend goes toward making Upper case what is upper case in English... as it can be seen in this rule,
4.10. Los nombres de vías y espacios urbanos. Al igual que en el caso de los nombres geográficos, solo el nombre propio debe ir escrito con mayúscula, y no los nombres comunes genéricos que acompañan a este, como calle, plaza, avenida, paseo, etc., que deben escribirse con minúscula: calle (de) Alcalá, calle Mayor, plaza de España, avenida de la Ilustración, paseo de Recoletos. Sin embargo, se escribirán en mayúscula los nombres genéricos de vías o espacios urbanos procedentes del inglés: Oxford Street, Quinta Avenida, Central Park, como es usual en esa lengua.

So, strictly speaking in Spanish would be "inglés americano" in lower case... but again, if one wants to "promote" his/her origins and culture, I don't find "incorrect" "Inglés Americano"...
__________________
Lo propio de la verdad es que se basta a sí misma, aquel que la posee no intenta convencer a nadie.
"An enemy is somebody who flatters you. A friend is somebody who criticizes the living daylights out of you."
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old October 28, 2010, 11:59 PM
Feliz Feliz is offline
Ruby
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 72
Native Language: American English
Feliz is on a distinguished road
Reply to thread

Gracias Rusty and JPablo. I will assume, then, that "americano" can be used in more general terms and "Americano" when trying to be more specific. That is the way that I have seen these words used already come to think of it. Thanks for the information and link to la RAE diccionario--I will be using this site a lot from now on. ¡Otro recurso excelente!
__________________


Last edited by Feliz; October 29, 2010 at 12:02 AM. Reason: Italics
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old October 29, 2010, 04:32 AM
aleCcowaN's Avatar
aleCcowaN aleCcowaN is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Posts: 3,127
Native Language: Castellano
aleCcowaN is on a distinguished road
"Inglés Americano" looks like the title of a book or an article. Nobody would write "Árabe" or "Chino Cantonés" or "Tagalo". The same way, nobody would write the noun "inglés" with capital i, least the adjective "americano" with capital a. "Inglés Americano" is simply "un anglicismo" and the fact that many can write it surely matches their cultural area, including native teachers that develop a sort of jargon ("que un nativo lo confirme").
__________________
[gone]
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old October 29, 2010, 06:15 AM
irmamar's Avatar
irmamar irmamar is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 7,071
Native Language: Español
irmamar is on a distinguished road
No sé qué hay de malo en usar "nativo" como expresión de hablante nativo. En lingüística se usa HN (hablante nativo), HNN (hablante no nativo) o HNC (hablante nativo culto).

Con darse una vuelta por algún artículo del cvc Cervantes, se puede comprobar.
Reply With Quote
Reply

 

Link to this thread
URL: 
HTML Link: 
BB Code: 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Site Rules


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:24 PM.

Forum powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

X