A singular plural

Press, 26 November 1977, Page 15

A singular plural

By

PHILIP HOWARD,

of “The Times,"

through NZPA.

In spite of protests from purists that they are a Latin plural, "data” persists in trying to become an English singular, as agenda and stamina did before it. In a characteristically *ntertaining and persuasive lecture. Professor Randolph Quirk gave an explanation of why data are not what they used to be. He oegan bv no ; n‘ : “g out that the division between singular and plural is not as clear-cut as it seems. It forces us to choose between one (car, pound, colour, and so on) and anything from two to infinity, which are lumped together as plural. At the same time, if an entity is

uncountable (like butter) or consists of particles that we do not choose to count (like rice) grammer requires us to treat such things as singular. On the other hand, many quite singular

objects like scissors and trousers are obligatory plurals, yet why should a bra be singular, or a coin with its two sides, or a shirt, with its two sleeves, if bathing trunks "are” plural? Professor Quirk pointed out that the material or

evidence that is assembled on an ever-increasing scale and subjected to computer processing consists of discrete singular items, but wavers linguistically between singular and plural when col-

lected. The word "Data” is a key instance. Is it ignorance of Latin that causes us to say, “This data is valuable,’* or our bad conscience over its Latin plurality that may prompt us to make amends with, “these data are valuable?”

Professor Quirk suggested that the reason for our vacillation is the emergence of a new type of "aggregate” noun, capable of being counted like sheep, yet not capable of precise enumeration. We do not talk about three data or 204 data, or about isolating one datum from the data. Above, all, the word is used as a singular since it is merely the aggregates of data, considered as an indistinct mass, like butter, that influence decision-making. Does this nastily illustrate the further relegation of the individual? Is that the direction of 1990? Professor Quirk gave no firm answers, but his data was/were stimulating.