Understanding the Unique Construction of Legal Titles in English

The Archaic Construction of "Attorney General"

The term "Attorney General" is a fascinating example of archaic language construction in English. Unlike modern English, where adjectives typically precede the nouns they modify, "Attorney General" places the adjective "general" after the noun "attorney." This exception to the usual rule is not a quirk of English alone but rather a borrowing from French, where such constructions are more common.

The word "general" in "Attorney General" does not denote a military rank but serves as an adjective meaning general in the sense of broad or non-specific, as opposed to special. The term indicates a general attorney, one who has broad authority rather than a specialized focus. This construction, though seemingly unusual in contemporary English, follows a consistent pattern found in other legal and formal terms.

French Influence on English Legal Terms

The influence of French on English legal terminology is considerable, and "Attorney General" is just one of many examples. In French, it is common for adjectives to follow the nouns they modify, a structure that has been carried over into English in certain contexts. Other legal terms that follow this pattern include "court martial," where the plural form is "courts martial," and "force majeure," meaning a superior force.

Additional examples include "malice aforethought," which describes premeditated intent, and "notary public," a public official authorized to perform certain legal formalities. These terms, like "Attorney General," retain their French-influenced structure, adding a touch of formality and tradition to legal language.

Patterns in Military Titles and Common Phrases

Interestingly, this pattern is also observed in military titles and some common phrases. For instance, "sergeant major" follows the same structure, with the adjective "major" coming after the noun "sergeant." Similarly, phrases like "arms akimbo" place the adjective after the noun, reflecting an older style of English.

In popular culture and everyday language, this construction can be found in phrases aiming for a traditional or sophisticated feel. The song "12 Days of Christmas" features lines like "nine lords a-leaping" and "eight maids a-milking," which follow this old-fashioned structure. Food names and other phrases sometimes adopt this pattern to evoke a sense of elegance or nostalgia.

Legal Titles and Their Plural Forms

The pluralization of these terms can sometimes cause confusion due to their unique structure. For example, the plural of "Attorney General" is "Attorneys General," where the noun "attorneys" is modified for plurality, while the adjective "general" remains unchanged. This pattern is similar to "passerby," which becomes "passers-by" in the plural form.

Conversely, in titles like "Prime Minister," the plural is "Prime Ministers" because the adjective "prime" modifies the noun "minister." This difference highlights the lack of a simple syntactic rule in English for handling these double-word phrases, leading to occasional ambiguity.

Understanding the Role of Adjectives and Nouns

In languages like French, both the noun and the adjective are modified for the plural form, providing a clear structure. For instance, "red books" in French is "les livres rouges," where both "livres" (books) and "rouges" (red) are modified. Applying this logic to English, "attorneys general" modifies the noun "attorneys" while leaving "general" unchanged.

Another example of this pattern is the title "Surgeon General," with the plural form being "surgeons general." This consistency in modifying the noun rather than the adjective underscores the influence of French on English legal and formal terminology.

Exploring these unique constructions offers a glimpse into the rich tapestry of the English language and its historical influences. The interplay between nouns and adjectives in titles like "Attorney General" not only preserves a sense of tradition but also adds depth and complexity to our understanding of legal and formal language.