[Ansteorra] Titles vs. Common Nouns

[Dragonetti]

I can't help it. Following this thread, all I can think of is an old Carol
Burnett sketch, lampooning "Walton's Mountain" (I think that was the show),
at the end of the evening with a roll call:

Good night John Boy.
Good night Daddy Man.
Good night Momma Woman.

Sorry. Sorry everyone. I'm sorry.

Man Armand Dragonetti
The Bloody Baron Man


-----Original Message-----
From: Jay Rudin

<snip>

> Perhaps "Cadet Rhiannon" is not correct for her. But if Cadet Bob wishes
to call himself that who are you to tell him he can't?

I'm a member of the militant arm of the Ansteorran College of Heralds, and
I'm somebody who has researched this issue both in the SCA and in history.
And I'm not saying he "can't".  I'm saying he shouldn't.  It's incorrect
usage.  The squire of a knight is not called "Squire John" and hasn't been
for the thousand year history of knighthood.  The apprentice of a guild
master is not called "Apprentice Jane" and hasn't been for the several
hundred year history of that term.  The page of a Baron is not called "Page
George".  The lady-in-waiting of a Queen is not called "Lady-in-Waiting
Diane".  

My real students don't call themselves "MBA student Chuck" either, and for
the same reason.  The English language is structured the way it is.  The
term "cadet", meaning a student to a White Scarf, is a common noun, not a
title.