Freethought & Rationalism Archive

KC · 01-30-2003, 07:47 AM

Has creationist use of the word 'specie' as a singular for 'species' increased lately, or have I just been unobservant of its use in the past?

As far as I can tell, you can only find it defined that way in unabridged dictionaries, and only as non-standard use.

Cheers,

KC

RufusAtticus · 01-30-2003, 07:50 AM

I saw a middle schooler on Christian Forums use it earlier this month.

In Latin, "species" is a third declention noun so the singlar and plural nomanatice are both signaled by "-es." Since it is still a technical term in english it has resisted the hypercorrection that would make "specie" or "specy" a singular.

Ab_Normal · 01-30-2003, 08:16 AM

I always thought "specie" meant money, so I looked it up at dictionary.com, and lo and behold, it does.

The phrase "in specie" can mean:
1. In coin
2. In a similar manner; in kind; repaid the offense in specie
3. Law: In the same kind or shape; as specified.

So I'd say it's a very non-standard use.

Godless Dave · 01-30-2003, 08:21 AM

It's like the Christians who spell God without the vowel ("G-d"). They think they're being clever but they're really showing their ignorance.

Principia · 01-30-2003, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by RufusAtticus
I saw a middle schooler on Christian Forums use it earlier this month.

In Latin, "species" is a third declention noun so the singlar and plural nomanatice are both signaled by "-es." Since it is still a technical term in english it has resisted the hypercorrection that would make "specie" or "specy" a singular.

Actually, the etymology of species is from the rare 5th declension (species, speciei/specie). But the form for the nominative is the same for both the plural and the singular cases. So while "specie" is a word, it's well, syntactically incorrect. http://www.math.ohio-state.edu/~econrad/lang/ln5.html

Heh, more than you need to know.

MrDarwin · 01-30-2003, 08:50 AM

The incorrect usage of the word "specie" to refer to a single "species" is very common in non-scientific (not just creationist) circles.

Monkey · 01-30-2003, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Godless Dave
It's like the Christians who spell God without the vowel ("G-d"). They think they're being clever but they're really showing their ignorance.

I saw that a couple of times and they said they do it out of respect? It would annoy the hell out of me if everyone started calling me Mo--ey.

Godless Dave · 01-30-2003, 10:19 AM

Respect my ass. They got the idea because in Hebrew the spelled Yahweh as YHWH. But in some forms of written Hebrew the vowels are always omitted - that's just how the language is written.

As for respect, that's why Christians are supposed to say "God" and not "Jehovah" or "Yahweh". You are not supposed to speak the name of God (no I don't know why), so they took the noun god and made it into a proper noun.

Of course to know that you would have to have learned history and understand that religious traditions change over time; attributes not common to fundies.

Godless Dave · 01-30-2003, 10:20 AM

Don't know how that happened!

Undercurrent · 01-30-2003, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MrDarwin
The incorrect usage of the word "specie" to refer to a single "species" is very common in non-scientific (not just creationist) circles.

...which will no doubt eventually become the english standard, like "kudo" and "cherry".

01-30-2003, 07:47 AM	#1
KC Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Narcisco, RRR Posts: 527	'Specie" Has creationist use of the word 'specie' as a singular for 'species' increased lately, or have I just been unobservant of its use in the past? As far as I can tell, you can only find it defined that way in unabridged dictionaries, and only as non-standard use. Cheers, KC

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01-30-2003, 07:50 AM	#2
RufusAtticus Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: NCSU Posts: 5,853	I saw a middle schooler on Christian Forums use it earlier this month. In Latin, "species" is a third declention noun so the singlar and plural nomanatice are both signaled by "-es." Since it is still a technical term in english it has resisted the hypercorrection that would make "specie" or "specy" a singular.

01-30-2003, 08:16 AM	#3
Ab_Normal Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 2,842	I always thought "specie" meant money, so I looked it up at dictionary.com, and lo and behold, it does. The phrase "in specie" can mean: 1. In coin 2. In a similar manner; in kind; repaid the offense in specie 3. Law: In the same kind or shape; as specified. So I'd say it's a very non-standard use.

01-30-2003, 08:21 AM	#4
Godless Dave Contributor Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: With 10,000 lakes who needs a coast? Posts: 10,762	It's like the Christians who spell God without the vowel ("G-d"). They think they're being clever but they're really showing their ignorance.

01-30-2003, 08:50 AM	#6
MrDarwin Veteran Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 4,140	The incorrect usage of the word "specie" to refer to a single "species" is very common in non-scientific (not just creationist) circles.

01-30-2003, 10:19 AM	#8
Godless Dave Contributor Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: With 10,000 lakes who needs a coast? Posts: 10,762	Respect my ass. They got the idea because in Hebrew the spelled Yahweh as YHWH. But in some forms of written Hebrew the vowels are always omitted - that's just how the language is written. As for respect, that's why Christians are supposed to say "God" and not "Jehovah" or "Yahweh". You are not supposed to speak the name of God (no I don't know why), so they took the noun god and made it into a proper noun. Of course to know that you would have to have learned history and understand that religious traditions change over time; attributes not common to fundies.

01-30-2003, 10:20 AM	#9
Godless Dave Contributor Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: With 10,000 lakes who needs a coast? Posts: 10,762	Don't know how that happened!

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