The Complex Service Manager - Part II
November 15th 2011 07:13
Last time, I wrote about the Complex Service Manager thinking I'd adequately covered the subject. I was wrong. Way wrong. I was assuming it was obvious that "Service Manager" is a single unit - a compound noun - and thinking that was all there was to it.
Now "Service Manager" is a common job title, it's true. But just because it's common, you can't assume that's what's meant in every case.
What if "Service Manager" isn't a compound noun? What if the operative word is the single word "Manager," and both modifiers are separate adjectives?
That's right - then we have a "Manager of Complex Service." Is there such a thing? Well, if you get out of the house much, I think you'll agree that there's plenty of simple service out there, so I have to guess there's complex service out there somewhere, too. And if there's complex service, you'd better hope there's someone pretty sharp around to manage it.
Wait a minute! I hear you say.
Yes, I can hear you through the Internet. I keep telling you that. Isn't the Internet wonderful?
Wait a minute! How can it be a compound noun if it's two words? Aren't compound words joined together? Like blackboard, like keyboard, like teacup.
The answer is simply, all compound words are not joined together. Floppy disk (remember those?) Heating pad. Coffee cup.
Compound words are more a unit of thought than of style. One-syllable words do seem to get joined together more often than longer words, but I don't think there's really a rule about that. It's just that - well - teacup looks better than coffeecup. And don't forget, when you remove the space between words, you speed up the pronunciation. Try it. Coffeecup. Coffeecupcoffeecupcoffeecup.
ee cummings made his reputation out of stuff like that.
Anyhow, two one-syllable words join together more smoothly than longer words, and I think that's all there is to it.
So getting back to the original idea, is this "Complex Service Manager" a complex person who manages regular service, a regular person who manages complex service, or what?
The answer is, in the context of the ad I took it from, it's a person who manages service at a place called a complex.
This is why English is so much fun!
Now "Service Manager" is a common job title, it's true. But just because it's common, you can't assume that's what's meant in every case.
What if "Service Manager" isn't a compound noun? What if the operative word is the single word "Manager," and both modifiers are separate adjectives?
That's right - then we have a "Manager of Complex Service." Is there such a thing? Well, if you get out of the house much, I think you'll agree that there's plenty of simple service out there, so I have to guess there's complex service out there somewhere, too. And if there's complex service, you'd better hope there's someone pretty sharp around to manage it.
Wait a minute! I hear you say.
Yes, I can hear you through the Internet. I keep telling you that. Isn't the Internet wonderful?
Wait a minute! How can it be a compound noun if it's two words? Aren't compound words joined together? Like blackboard, like keyboard, like teacup.
The answer is simply, all compound words are not joined together. Floppy disk (remember those?) Heating pad. Coffee cup.
Compound words are more a unit of thought than of style. One-syllable words do seem to get joined together more often than longer words, but I don't think there's really a rule about that. It's just that - well - teacup looks better than coffeecup. And don't forget, when you remove the space between words, you speed up the pronunciation. Try it. Coffeecup. Coffeecupcoffeecupcoffeecup.
ee cummings made his reputation out of stuff like that.
Anyhow, two one-syllable words join together more smoothly than longer words, and I think that's all there is to it.
So getting back to the original idea, is this "Complex Service Manager" a complex person who manages regular service, a regular person who manages complex service, or what?
The answer is, in the context of the ad I took it from, it's a person who manages service at a place called a complex.
This is why English is so much fun!
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