Lightstructures

From the above discussion, we observe there is no single word to describe a built, lit structure that is not a lighthouse. The options available involve the juxtaposition of ‘light’ with such words as tower or structure. Rowlett prefers ‘light tower’ but we suggest here that the word ‘tower’ is, in his terms, ‘too restrictive’. Additionally, we believe it is important to use a word in which the two words are joined.

Modern English has no consensus on the joining of words. For example: sea water, sea-water or seawater – which is correct? In fact, all of these are correct and distinctions are made only to satisfy a publisher’s ‘house-style’. However, the computer on which this is being typed insists that the first of the three options is incorrect! The same computer does not object if I type ‘light house’ or ‘lighthouse’. This is because the software is presently unable to determine the meaning I am trying to convey.

The word ‘lighthouse’ has not, in modern times, been written as ‘light house’, although in earlier centuries it was occasionally written as ‘light-house’. Thus, the 19^th century US Lighthouse Agency was the "U. S. Light-house Board." The use of a hyphen has been seen by many as being a precursor to the formal joining of two words. In recent times, for example, the words ‘data-base’ and ‘knowledge-base’ have evolved into database and knowledgebase. This joining of nouns to make ‘complex’ nouns, as are many matters associated with an evolving language, is a question of use, debate, and context, and is not always consistent. However, it has become common in the latter half of the 20^th century, possibly encouraged by the use of computers, but more probably demanded by the rapid advances in technology, to join nouns (but not adjectives) together in this way. Not only is it an aid to clarity of interpretation, but it assists in eliminating the kind of interpretational errors discussed earlier. Yet, the use of ‘lighthouse’ is in contrast to ‘light tower’, ‘light structure’ and ‘light station’.

The reader should note that, throughout this paper, where a term is made up of two ‘sub-words’ we use the joined version. Thus, we propose here to use the word ‘lightstructure’ to mean a built, lit structure that is not a lighthouse. The two words are merged so as to conform to the equivalent ‘lighthouse’ - a matter that we maintain is non-trivial in the context of electronic information.

© 2003 Ken Trethewey