Is this simply used addressing somebody.
For example:
In the sentance, ‘‘She has gone, son.’’, son is in the vocative (if in latin)?
I doesn’t seem right to use the vocative unless it’s addressing someone emphatically. I usally implicitlty add “Oh …” to see if it would make sense to use the vocative somewhere. There are a few exceptions, for example “God save the Queen” could go either way with the vocative.
I think a best example of the vocative case is next:
Mother, please sweep my room.
In ths phrase, the Mother is in vocative case.
All the declisions cases only apply for nouns and adjectives, not for interjectiones like Oh. … 
There are a few exceptions, for example “God save the Queen” could go either way with the vocative.
Isn’t this an example of the subjunctive (“Would that God save the Queen”)?
Here is a website devoted to the subjunctive:
www.ceafinney.com/subjunctive/examples.html
Does anyone remember the old joke about the “pluperfect subjunctive”? It involves a fish.
Tim
Ciraric, you are completely right. Odysseus, I’m afraid that assessment is not correct. A noun in the vocative case is merely when that noun is being addressed. All the following in boldface would be in the Latin vocative:
I’m going to leave, dad.
Hey, Jake, give me another spoon.
Ow! damn you, stupid table!
“God save the Queen” is an example of the English subjunctive, meaning “May God save the Queen.” It is not the English vocative. In Latin it would be, “Deus Reginam seruet.”
Tjnor, I do not know that joke; how does it go?
Do I detect a Mister Language Person reference?
Call me vain but I love hearing that.
And thanks so much.
What makes that statement different from ‘‘God is saving the Queen’’ or ‘‘God saves the Queen’’? Thanks.
servo, servare is a first conjugation verb, so “God is saving/saves the Queen” would be a present indicative, which would have the form “servat”.
Servet is in the subjunctive mood, making it a “hortatory” subjuntive (ie. let/may he save).
So “God saves the Queen” would be Deus Reginam servat.
Thank you loads.
I think that is a matter of interpretation. Personally I agree with Lucus.
I’m confused…where do I interpret something differently from Lucus? (or am I just misunderstanding you?)
Um… on closer inspection I seem to have put my foot in my mouth. I didn’t quite read the thread thoroughly and thought you were saying that in God saves the queen the ‘saves’ is indicative, not subjunctive. I now see you did not. My apologies. 
No problem, I figured that’s what it was. I don’t think I can count the number of times I’ve misread posts and made confusing replies, just not on this forum, I hope, since this is only my fourth post 
.
Vale!
I think the applicable difference here is “God save the Queen!” and “God saves the Queen.” The traditional sentiment is using “save” which is what implies the subjunctive, i.e., “Would that God only save the Queen!” The statement using “saves” is a simple indicative, i.e., “God saves” or “God is saving.” The latter erroneous construction is implies knowledge as opposed to sentiments. I suppose interpretation hinges on whether one is addressing God or whether one is addressing the Queen, though I can’t see the verb being anything but hortatory in the historical usage.
Latin-wise, Christian authors don’t use “Deus” in the vocative…at least I don’t know particular examples so don’t fault me for my ignorance. 
But since the vocative of “Deus” is, of all things, “Deus,” you can’t really go wrong whatever your intent (until you hit the verb 
). Christian authors use the vocative, however, with “dominus,” i.e., “Domine.” For example the first line of St. Augustine’s Confessiones: “Magnus es, Domine, et laudabilis valde.”
I do think that “God save the Queen,” when said to the Queen in all of its hortatorial splendor is as above, i.e., “Deus Reginam servet.” If one wishes to address one’s God regarding one’s Queen, then “Serva Reginam, Domine!” is more appropriate.
Ah, but christians did use Deus with the vocative. For instance, I’m a Mass server and one of the firsts prayers I recite with the priest is: “Judica me Deus et discerne causam meam de gente non sancta; ab homine iniquo et doloso erue me. Quia tu es, Deus, fortitudo mea, quare me repulisti et quare tristis incedo dum affligit me inimicus…” And that prayer dates from the late Middle Ages, if memory serves me right.
Vale!
I think this is a problem with English, where the subjunctive and imperatives have the same form. Is the intent really to give a command (serva) to God?
Now, what about that fish joke?
I think it’s, “God save the Queen!”–old sport–here, just ask Silenus!
So let’s give three cheers for Her Majesty the Queen: “Hiphip-hooray, hiphip-hooray, hiphip-hooray!”
Servet is in the subjunctive mood, making it a “hortatory” subjuntive (ie. let/may he save).
Fine, but according to the college/gymnasium standard for English-speakers, Allen & Greenough, hortatory subjunctive is usually found in the second person–serves “may you save”–while the Latin third person more often goes by the name “jussive”!
So “God saves the Queen” would be Deus Reginam servat.
…et Libertas resonet! Amen
So a tourist comes into Boston and hails a cab. He really likes seafood, and so when he gets in he says to the cabbie, “Can you take me somewhere where I can get scrod?” The cabbie looks at him quizzically, strokes his chin, and finally shrugs and says: “Sure thing, pal. I get that request a lot … it’s just that I’ve never heard it in the pluperfect subjunctive before.” rimshot
I think I first read this in one of Steven Pinker’s books, but I’m not completely sure.