Wordie: Attorney: Comments

Comment by burntsox, 8 months ago

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 13:32:45 +0000

Thank you for auxesis - that's why I come to wordie!

And, Groucho, my other ear is tone deaf to all cultures!

Comment by sarra, 8 months ago

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 15:24:30 +0000

Solicitor and barrister are standard for me too, as I'm familiar (well—to an only pedestrian degree!) with the English law system, within which those are the two defined branches of the profession. I'd never heard attorney till I started to come more into contact with American culture through the media.

burntsox may be interested to know that there's a (self-referential in this case) term for such hoity-toitiness: auxesis

Comment by kewpid, 8 months ago

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 15:16:30 +0000

Really? Solicitor sounds very ordinary to me. Though I'm probably just used to hearing it.

Comment by SonofGroucho, 8 months ago

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 15:07:48 +0000

What nationality is your other ear?

Comment by burntsox, 8 months ago

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 06:22:15 +0000

lol - I'd say "solicitor" and "barrister" BOTH sound pretentious to my American ear!

Comment by kewpid, 8 months ago

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:15:15 +0000

You are right burntsox. Though the preference for Attorney seems to be an American trend.

In Australia the split is between Solicitor vs. Barrister, as the profession is not fused over here.

Comment by burntsox, 8 months ago

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:01:31 +0000

I think "attorney" is somewhat pretentious, as compared to "lawyer." There is a difference: a lawyer is one who practices law, while an attorney is one who represents someone.

But it bugs me when people opt for the more hoity-toity. "Attorney" vs. "lawyer." "I" instead of "me."
"Physician" over "doctor" (though on that one the words are truly indistinguishable and, if anything, physican is more precise in the medical field).