Discussion:
"No lo contendere"
(too old to reply)
halcombe
2004-10-05 04:24:55 UTC
Permalink
A term of art in some US jurisdictions, I believe, for a variety of
plea to criminal charges - aka "no contest" – is "nolo contendere": I
do not wish to contest (or something of the sort).

Yet, reading a piece

http://www.suntimes.com/output/sachs/sho-sunday-sax03.html

on the travails of Dan Rather, I find the expression spelt as "no lo
contendere". And Google pulls up 200 items thus spelt – including, for
instance,

http://www.hr.upenn.edu/recruitment/recruitment_forms/upennapp.pdf

a job application form for the University of Pennsylvania – educator,
educate thyself!

Does any thought go into the misspelling? Is the phrase supposed to
from Spanish or Italian – in which "no" and "lo" are at least present?
Or is it just ignorance?

(Does the "Sun-Times" spellchecker not have the correct spelling? Or
isn't it used, I wonder?)
don groves
2004-10-05 05:24:33 UTC
Permalink
Post by halcombe
A term of art in some US jurisdictions, I believe, for a variety of
plea to criminal charges - aka "no contest" ? is "nolo contendere": I
do not wish to contest (or something of the sort).
Yet, reading a piece
http://www.suntimes.com/output/sachs/sho-sunday-sax03.html
on the travails of Dan Rather, I find the expression spelt as "no lo
contendere". And Google pulls up 200 items thus spelt ? including, for
instance,
http://www.hr.upenn.edu/recruitment/recruitment_forms/upennapp.pdf
a job application form for the University of Pennsylvania ? educator,
educate thyself!
Does any thought go into the misspelling? Is the phrase supposed to
from Spanish or Italian ? in which "no" and "lo" are at least present?
Or is it just ignorance?
In Spanish, "no lo contendere" translates to the English "I will
not contest it".
--
dg (domain=ccwebster)
August de Man
2004-10-05 07:29:39 UTC
Permalink
In Spanish, "no lo contendere" translates to the English "I will not contest it".
Not true, that would be "no lo contenderé".
But maybe that is what has caused the confusion.
It is Latin and should be written "nolo contendere", "I don't want to contest it".

Aug.Bat.
A term of art in some US jurisdictions, I believe, for a variety of
plea to criminal charges - aka "no contest" ? is "nolo contendere": I
do not wish to contest (or something of the sort).
Yet, reading a piece
http://www.suntimes.com/output/sachs/sho-sunday-sax03.html
on the travails of Dan Rather, I find the expression spelt as "no lo
contendere". And Google pulls up 200 items thus spelt ? including, for
instance,
http://www.hr.upenn.edu/recruitment/recruitment_forms/upennapp.pdf
a job application form for the University of Pennsylvania ? educator,
educate thyself!
Does any thought go into the misspelling? Is the phrase supposed to
from Spanish or Italian ? in which "no" and "lo" are at least present?
Or is it just ignorance?
-
CB
2004-10-05 12:29:22 UTC
Permalink
Post by August de Man
In Spanish, "no lo contendere" translates to the English "I will not contest it".
Not true, that would be "no lo contenderé".
But maybe that is what has caused the confusion.
It is Latin and should be written "nolo contendere", "I don't want to contest it".
Aug.Bat.
A term of art in some US jurisdictions, I believe, for a variety of
plea to criminal charges - aka "no contest" ? is "nolo contendere": I
do not wish to contest (or something of the sort).
Yet, reading a piece
http://www.suntimes.com/output/sachs/sho-sunday-sax03.html
on the travails of Dan Rather, I find the expression spelt as "no lo
contendere". And Google pulls up 200 items thus spelt ? including, for
instance,
http://www.hr.upenn.edu/recruitment/recruitment_forms/upennapp.pdf
a job application form for the University of Pennsylvania ?
educator,
Post by August de Man
educate thyself!
Does any thought go into the misspelling? Is the phrase supposed to
from Spanish or Italian ? in which "no" and "lo" are at least present?
Or is it just ignorance?
I don't think you can say that in Spanish -- "contender" doesn't take a
direct object, so it could only be "no contenderé", with no "lo". CDB
Mike Lyle
2004-10-05 13:20:23 UTC
Permalink
Post by August de Man
Post by don groves
In Spanish, "no lo contendere" translates to the English "I will
not
Post by August de Man
Post by don groves
contest it".
Not true, that would be "no lo contenderé".
But maybe that is what has caused the confusion.
It is Latin and should be written "nolo contendere", "I don't want
to
Post by August de Man
contest it".
[...]

And, from the plaintiff's point of view, there's "nolle prosequi" and
"non prosequitur".

Mike.

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