English grammar and such: On the Nature of Bookshelfs

[Geoff Bannister]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "Steve" <bboyminn at ...> wrote:

 [Lee]:
> > > You're still talking about more than one speaker, however, 
> > > you're using the style type "bookshelf" rather than the 
> > > number of speakers.  Since the style type is in the singular
> > > "Bookshelf," ... the fact that you want more than one still 
> > > doesn't change it's name.  saying you want two bookshelfs 
> > > ... seems correct to  me.
 
Geoff:
> > I think the point is that, in this instance, "Bookshelf" is
> > functioning as an adjective to "Shelf" or "shelves" and since
> > adjectives are no longer inflected in English, "Bookshelf 
> > speakers" would be the correct form.
 
bboyminn:
> Of course, 'Bookshelf Speakers' is correct, but in casual 
> conversation we refer to the singular as bookshelf and
> floorstander, and the plural as bookshelfs and floorstanders.
> 
> With the word 'speakers' in, the answer is clear, but what 
> about without the word 'speaker', yet still referring to 
> multiple speakers?
> 
> So, is anyone going to go for the contraction bookshelf's
> where the "'s" indicates that the word 'speaker' has been left 
> out of the phrase? (just kidding)

Geoff:
For me, this conversation is a bit esoteric because until the 
phrase surfaced here a day or so ago, I'd never heard of bookshelf 
speakers! Obviously another of those UK/US divides.