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From: gans@scholar.chem.nyu.edu (Paul J. Gans)
Subject: Re: Why AD Latin, BC English?
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Edward Zotti (ezotti@merle.acns.nwu.edu) wrote:

: Does anybody know why AD, anno domini, is Latin, while the
: abbreviation BC, before Christ, is English? The earliest use of
: anno domini appears to have been in the 12th century. One supposes
: that English scholars (archaeologists? Bishop Berkeley?)
: popularized BC many years later but the usual sources, such as the
: OED, are silent. Any information on this point would be
: appreciated. 

My copy of Bede is at home, but the Venerable Bede introduced
the notion of dating events from the birth of Christ.  Before
that western Europeans dated events by King-years.

: Two related questions:

: (1) Are AD and BC used in other languages? If not, what initials
: are used instead, and what do they stand for?

: (2) One occasionally sees BCE (before the common era or before the
: Christian era) used instead of BC, and CE (common era or Christian
: era) used instead of AD. These abbreviations are often used by
: Jewish scholars discussing some historical aspect of Judaism, but
: I vaguely recall seeing them in general scientific discussions on
: occasion. Are they in fact used in such discussions and if so on
: what grounds--fewer religious overtones?

Yes.

: Replies by e-mail appreciated. Doing research for a newspaper
: column. I will post a summary. Thanks. -Ed


   ---- Paul J. Gans    [gans@scholar.chem.nyu.edu]

