Re: [ARSCLIST] Clarification (was Re: A wiki-discopedia?)

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Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Clarification (was Re: A wiki-discopedia?)
From: Mike Richter <mrichter@xxxxxxx>
Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2008 12:08:00 -0800
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Howard Friedman wrote:

If "data" is singular, what is "people"? What is the context in which "data" can be a singular noun, any more than "people" can ever be a singular noun?

But "people" can properly be used as a singular, meaning those in a specific culture. Thus, one speaks of the Jewish people. As a collective noun, it also has a proper plural: Peoples of the world.

A problem with "data" as a singular is that one loses "datum" and is reduced to "a piece of data". Another may be peculiar to my own interpretation: it obscures the distinction between "data" and "information".

Mike
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References:
- [ARSCLIST] Clarification (was Re: A wiki-discopedia?)
  - From: Jon Noring
- Re: [ARSCLIST] Clarification (was Re: A wiki-discopedia?)
  - From: Howard Friedman
- Re: [ARSCLIST] Clarification (was Re: A wiki-discopedia?)
  - From: Jon Noring
- Re: [ARSCLIST] Clarification (was Re: A wiki-discopedia?)
  - From: Howard Friedman

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