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Pigfoot Posted 21 years ago
Linguistics Studies

use of, for example, uncle-in-law , & the existence of English language(s)

I heard someone say that in Canada people extend the use of in-law to the uncles, aunties, nephews, nieces and grandparents of one's spouse. Is that so? If so, is it true elsewhere, too? Further, can we say that there is more than one English? Can we say, for example, that there is a Canadian English and an American English? What is the correct term for distinguishing the Englishes spoken in different countries? Languages? Dialects? Variations? Thanks!
  

Top answer

Pigfoot I heard someone say that in Canada people extend the use of in-law to the uncles, aunties, nephews, nieces and grandparents of one's spouse. Is that so? If so, is it true elsewhere, too?

— Philip

  • Pigfoot I heard someone say that in Canada people extend the use of in-law to the uncles, aunties, nephews, nieces and grandparents of one's spouse.
  • Is that so?
  • If so, is it true elsewhere, too?
  • Further, can we say that there is more than one English?
  • Can we say, for example, that there is a Canadian English and an American English?
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12 Answers
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PigfootI heard someone say that in Canada people extend the use of in-law to the uncles, aunties, nephews, nieces and grandparents of one's spouse. Is that so? If so, is it true elsewhere, too? Further, can we say that there is more than one English? Can we say, for example, that there is a Canadian English and an American English? What is the correct term for distingu
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Can you not call your aunt's husband as "uncle-in-law"?
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In American English, your aunt's husband is your uncle. We use the same word for your mother's sister's husband as you do for your mother's brother. (Likewise, your father's sister's husband and your father's brother -- all uncles.)

If you said "uncle-in-law" I may think you meant your spouse's uncle, but as Philip said, I'd expet to hear "My husband's uncle."
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In British English, I would only expect to hear e.g. "my wife's uncle" too; though no doubt "uncle-in-law" would be comprehensible.

MrP
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Hi,
I live in Canada. I only hear
'mother-in-law', 'father-in-law',
'sister-in-law', 'brother -in-law',
'son-in-law', 'daughter -in-law'.

However, I also hear the term 'my in-laws' by itself, meaning all of my husband or wife's family,
eg My in-laws are coming to our home for Christmas.

Best wishes, Clive
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In Australia I would say "uncle in law" or "uncle-in-law". This also applies to aunts but I've never heard it used to refer to any other relationship such as nieces, nephews, cousins, etc. Logically though, you could say this if uncle-in-law is used.

My question (and the reason I found this post) is that I'm trying to find out if the correct plural is "uncle-in-law's" or "uncles-in-law",
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Anonymous(bad US spelling and ruined punctuation rules)
So it seems you are using flattery as your technique for asking people to help you? Interesting.

Look up mothers-in-law versus mother-in-laws. Apply the same rule uncles. And speaking of ruined punctuation, look up "greengrocer's apostrophe" to see how "uncle-in-law's" would be judged. I suppose
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AnonymousMy question (and the reason I found this post) is that I'm trying to find out if the correct plural is "uncle-in-law's" or "uncles-in-law", or if both are equally valid.
Hmm. There are three possible things that "uncle-in-law's" could be, but it is very definitely not plural:

1. "uncle-in-law's" = the singular possessive form of "uncle-in-law
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Hi,

I don't think anyone was really disputing that fact, were they? Emotion: smile

Best wishes, Clive
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