Capital I?

[Boogymanx]

I'm just wondering, why is it that English uses a capital I (meaning the person that's talking)? I haven't found anything on this yet, but then again I may be searching wrong. If anyone knows, please do tell.





:imu:

 

[Adabiviak]

Google brought up not less than 20 responses with a quick search. How are you searching for it?

 

[Boogymanx]

Google brought up not less than 20 responses with a quick search. How are you searching for it?

"Capital I"

 

[_Z_Ryuken]

It's a proper noun used in place of one's name to avoid sounding neanderthalic. It's just an advancement/complication of language.

ME NO UNDERSTAND PUNY QUESTION RARGH

 

[Naudian]

The same pronoun is also capitalized in French. You always see it as Je, not je. But tu, il, elle aren't capitalized unless they start the sentance...

So, like ryuken said, it's capitalized because it's in place of your name, which is also capitalized...but then...he and she would be capitalized :O

HMMMM!

 

[dfc05]

It's because people are selfish and egotistical, and the capitalization of "I" represents their feeble idiotic attempt to increase their own self-importance.

 

[Glirk Dient]

Because I am more important than the rest of the crappy words in any sentence.

 

[Viperidae]

The same pronoun is also capitalized in French. You always see it as Je, not je.

Where exactly did you learn French?

 

[CyberPitz]

Because before English was made, they said to themselves, "When we talk about ourselves, we will use the 9th letter in the alphabet and always make it BIG!"

I was there, I know.

 

[CrazyHarij]

Where exactly did you learn French?

i was going to ask the same question..

 

[CyberPitz]

i was going to ask the same question..

You're hardcore?! Crap, SOMEONE CALL 911! HE'S ABOUT TO OD!

Sorry, I'm waiting for my laundry, and I'm tired as hell.

 

[Sulkdodds]

I assume it's because it's a proper noun just like every other proper noun. It's the word that you use in place of your own name (unless you're weird).

I, Bob, Cyberpitz, Henry.
But not the same as he, she, you, it.

 

[CrazyHarij]

How about those ad sites that spell You with a capital y?

Are You dissatisfied with the size of Your genital area?

 

[Beerdude26]

Are You dissatisfied with the size of Your genital area?

 

[Boogymanx]

I know how to use it, I've just always wondered why it's capitalized.

 

[Chris D]

Where exactly did you learn French?

Obviously in an English speaking country

 

[Element Alpha]

I assume it's because it's a proper noun just like every other proper noun. It's the word that you use in place of your own name (unless you're weird).

I, Bob, Cyberpitz, Henry.
But not the same as he, she, you, it.

If it's because it's the word that you use in place of a name, your contradicting yourself. If I say "you" to you, I mean you. Get it? You've got a name too and all that jazz.

I think it's just the way it's done. I don't think you'll find a etimology report that'll be 100% certain of its assumptions. But that's just me, I mean "I".

edit: I'm french, and I assure you there ain't no "Je" thing going on. Kick your french teacher in the nads, will you?

 

[RakuraiTenjin]

I'm just wondering, why is it that English uses a capital I (meaning the person that's talking)? I haven't found anything on this yet, but then again I may be searching wrong. If anyone knows, please do tell.





:imu:

Same reason you capitalize your name.

edit: maybe a Germanic holdover.

German capitalizes all nouns.

 

[kirovman]

I, I, I, i don't know lol

Yes, it's because it's a personal pronoun. Such are the nuances of the English language.

edit: maybe a Germanic holdover.

A German hangover!

 

[el Chi]

maybe a Germanic holdover.

That sounds like a deviant sexual practise.

"Darling, you know how it's my birthday? Well, there was something I wanted to try out..."
"Oooh - sounds naughty! What did you have in mind, birthday boy?"
"Erm... *Coughs* Well, I was hoping we could go for a Germanic Holdover..."
"You sick bastard! Get away from me, you freak!"

 

[JNightshade]

ROFL, sigged

anyway, I believe the "I" is capitalized because it takes the place of a proper noun, thus recieving all its properties. You capitalize your own name, hence you capitalize "I".

 

[el Chi]

Glad you liked it

 

[kirovman]

I liked it so much that I came back for seconds

 

[el Chi]

That's what she said. ZING!

 

[_Z_Ryuken]

If it's because it's the word that you use in place of a name, your contradicting yourself. If I say "you" to you, I mean you. Get it? You've got a name too and all that jazz.

You, he, she, it, they, are all generic placeholders for names, not substitutes themselves. They are part of informal language.

When using formal language, you say one's name.

Speaking of yourself, using "I" is considered formal, as "me" is informal and regarded is ignorant description of one's self, hence not capitalized.

 

[kupocake]

Like many rules in English, there is no real reason behind it in the end. One day, some people or a group of people decided they liked their "I"s capitalised and they put into books guiding good English usage, and suggested to others that they adopt the standard they had chosen. I guess being a prescriptive grammarian was just one of the ways of wasting time that existed before the internet was invented.