I know normality is a word, the state of being normal, which Merriam Webster says is:
Main Entry: [1]nor·mal
Pronunciation: 'nor-m&l
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin normalis, from norma
Date: circa 1696
1 : PERPENDICULAR; especially : perpendicular to a tangent at a point of tangency
2 a : according with, constituting, or not deviating from a norm, rule, or principle b : conforming to a type, standard, or regular pattern
3 : occurring naturally
4 a : of, relating to, or characterized by average intelligence or development b : free from mental disorder : SANE
- nor·mal·i·ty /nor-'ma-l&-tE/ noun
- nor·mal·ly /'nor-m&-lE/ adverb
And, yadda, yadda, yadda. Now, the noun form, normality, can that be put into plural? I tried it, and the prognosis was "negative," but I don't know why.
And if lg is reading this, I have a personal question for you. You seem to be one of the gurus of eMule, correct? Excuse me for being so bold, but may I ask how old you are, and if you have a beard? I `m quite curious (And I ask if you have a beard only because associate them with wisdom for some reason...)
Post Edited (06-18-04 00:11)
54, no beard. "Normality" is generally thought of in the singular, just as the word "average" is generally thought to be singular.
Side note: "Abnormalities" often appears plural. Go figure.
Les
Post Edited (06-18-04 00:24)
Thank you!
Though I did picture a beard...
Probably the reason you don’t see ‘normalities’ very often is not that it’s wrong as a word but that it’s hardly ever needed. Like ‘totality’, 'normality' refers to something all-embracing; so rarely needs pluralising. ‘Abnormalities’ on the other hand may well be multiple exceptions to the overall state of normality. Nevertheless, there could be a context in which ‘normalities’ is useful. For instance I imagine diplomats dealing with a number of countries might be instructed to observe the normalities, meaning something like the customary protocols.
Can’t agree that ‘average’ is generally singular, Les. Think of references to the ‘law of averages’ or a batsman topping the batting averages. Surely the latter applies in baseball as well as cricket.
Incidentally, I have heard it said that for psychiatrists a ‘normal’ person is someone who has been insufficiently studied.
Post Edited (06-18-04 09:52)
kudoses to all for the above
Some computer dictionaries may not include the word NORMALITIES, but that doesn't mean it ain't a word!
I can well imagine that if you were comparing the different concepts of NORMALITY in different cultures, you might need the word NORMALITIES, and it would be there for you.
FYI, I got to be a guru by mailing in a form from the back of an issue of ROLLING STONE magazine.
(singing)
Can you tell me how to get
How to get to Normality Street?
"Made a lightning trip to Vienna,
eating chocolate cake in a bag.
The newspapers said,
"She's gone to his head,
They look just like two gurus in drag".
J Lennon
Google gets over 9k hits for normalities (but 1 million 5 for abnormalities).
That's because very few of us are normal, Hugh. Although our batting averages are high.
Les
Millions for defense but not one cent for normality !
My batting average is Mendoza but my on-base percentage is good.
So you aren't a 5 tool guy?
There's one way to be normal, but lots of ways to be abnormal.
Of course, in optics normal is a noun and so there can be several normals in one ray diagram.
Now that makes perfect sense....only one way to be "normal".
I suppose that's why none us are. :-)
Warren G. Harding, 29th president of the U.S. vowed in his campaign a "return to normalcy". I guess we never got there.
Les
To paraphrase Chico Marx:
"I think we went past it."
Marian, the ironic thing about Harding's statement was that it was made for the election of the 1920's. Little did he know that the decade to follow, the one in which he served, would be one of the most corrupt politically, and the most socially outrageous until the decadence of the late 1960's.
Les
My Shorter OED has one short line accepting 'normalcy', but with all due respect to President Harding, I'd draw the line against 'normalcies'.
It also accepts 'normalism', defined as the quality or state of being normal. This is nicely labelled 'rare'.
Post Edited (06-18-04 23:05)
OK Les, I see you as about 5'10" or 11", and wiry of build. (By the way, we seem to have been born in the same year)
Hugh I imagine with a beard, 6'+ and solid.
Talia is skinny and Pam petite.
(I hope I haven't upset anyone)
NORMALISM is rare.
That's wonderful!
"Please, God, please! Don't let me be normal!"
(from THE FANTASTICKS)
Here at work we have a member named Norma Normandy !
and Pam petite
Just keep on thinking that!
pam
No sign of normalities in the 1989 OED but it says this for normalcy:
Hence "normalcy chiefly U.S. = normality; "normalist.
1857 Davies & Peck Math. Dict. 386 If we denote the co-ordinates of the point of contact, and normalcy, by x” and y”. 1878 Bellingham tr. Haulleville's Aspects Cath. & Protestantism 184 The fellow-countrymen of Ovid, of Horace and of Virgil, were not all normalists. 1893 Nation 30 July 47/1 Believers+in the mathematical normalcy of the female mind. 1920 W. G. Harding in F. L. Allen Only Yesterday (1931) ii. 41 America's present need is not heroics but healing; not nostrums but normalcy; not revolution but restoration. 1929 G. N. Clark in S.P.E. Tract xxxiii. 417 If+‘normalcy’ is ever to become an accepted word it will presumably be because the late President Harding did not know any better. 1932 G. K. Chesterton Sidelights ii. xiv. 182 Life in a modern town, whatever else it is, is not Normalcy. 1939 John o' London's 9 June 369/1 That insistent normalcy of men who cannot afford to permit themselves to be thrown off balance. 1951 M. McLuhan Mech. Bride 47/1 Professor Kinsey's surveys, with their economist-like normalcy charts. 1957 V. J. Kehoe Technique Film & T.V. Make-up i. 17 On stage, where strong lights and distance of the actors from the audience wash out and flatten the features, make-up restores to the face the look of normalcy in both color and contour. 1965 New Statesman 7 May 733/1 A kind of spectral normalcy.
If Harding didn't choke to death after a miniature biplane flew into his mouth, would we even be having this discussion?
(Free Prize to anyone who gets that reference)
I believe that's a philatelic remark.
I just KNEW you'd get it!
What prize would you like and I will attempt to offer a poor substitute for your request !
and no you CAN'T have my copy of Venus on the Half-Shell !
As far as I can remember, WGH died from a stroke, but never let facts stand in the way of a potential swifty.
"I spoke with a tone that was rattly,
And always attired myself nattily,
Then died from a cramp
When licking a stamp,"
Said Warren G. Harding philately.
Nice one Hugh!
but Marian was making a pun (or at least I believe she was)
She BETTER have been,
otherwise she doesn't win !
Well, Hugh, I guess if you can't beat 'em, you might as well join 'em.
Said Harding while driving along
I wish I could right all the wrong
But I can't find my way back to norms
I must be knee deep in these forms
And old Cox is just singing a song
Les
Oh what the hell.................
If sportsmanship I'm disregarding
and blows to your legs I'm bombarding
I'm not existential
I'm not presidential
I'm Tonya not Warren G Harding
Marian Poppins........if you wish to claim your prize (or even if you don't), I kindly request that you please clarify your answer.
I thought I knew what you meant, but Hugh's turning from Clary to Obscury.
Okay, but I'm donating my prize to charity.
I was not attempting a pun. I was just guessing that when you wrote "a miniature biplane flew into his mouth" you were refering to an image on a postage stamp.
Thanks Marian for clarifying, and since no one else stepped forward with an answer, I'll fill you in.
The "pun" i thought you intended was the "phil" in philatelic, meaning Phillip Jose Farmer. His book A BARNSTORMER IN OZ makes reference to Harding's death in such a manner.
Since we seem to have shared tastes in certain areas, I assumed that you knew immediately what i was referring to, and that you were having a chuckle by saying that !
Hence my Venus on the Half-Shell remark !
The prize was going to be a picture of James Pup the Dog and Admiral Schmoopie the Cat napping next to each other.
You may still have it if you like, or if anyone else would, I will email it.
or better yet.....here it is
Johnny,
I missed that one. Kilgore Trout is going to disown me.
pam