(no subject)

[deckardcanine]

Back in 2007, I complained that a news source referred to "the late Steve McQueen" when he'd died in 1980. Today I read of "the late Jacques Tati," who died in 1982. That's an even longer grace period.

Personally, I think that for "late" to have much impact, the death has to be recent enough that some people still have trouble coping with it. Of course, that varies a lot by who dies and who mourns. Would you speak of "the late Heath Ledger" now that it's been three years? How about Ronald Reagan, who would've turned 100 this Sunday but died in 2004?

Nevertheless, the least that journalists could do is not insinuate that a college graduate was born lately.

Comments

[jordan179.livejournal.com]

The late Aristotle? The late Sargon of Akkad?

[richardf8]

I think its like saying "may so-and-so's memory be for a blessing," a sign of respect for the dead.

[ccdesan.livejournal.com]

In Egypt when you were dead, you'd take on the name of the Lord of the Underworld. So if Shoshenk bought the farm, he would then be known as Osiris Shoshenk. I see no problem with referring to anyone dead as "the late so-and-so" if it pleases one to do so. Language is created by them as speaks it, not by them as writes the style guides.

[deckardcanine.livejournal.com]

I just find it confusing. "What, Tati died recently? Why didn't I hear about it? Oh, because I was six months old."