19 Jan
2003
19 Jan
'03
3:08 p.m.
Eric Smith wrote:
There is a distinction between the two. The first case is two separate entries
in Websters. The latter is a single entry. You, sir, stand corrected!
Eric
Eric Chomko wrote:
"American" is always capitalized. "Native American" is quite different
than
"native American." The first implies that the two words have a distinction
when combined. Check the website: www.m-w.com with "Native American",
it is a single entry.
Then look up "native" and "American" at the same website. Combine the
two
latter as separate word entries and then you'll have you.
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.