In message . li, at
17:05:36 on Sun, 12 Jul 2009, Tom Anderson
remarked:
"Professional" implies that the person has passed an academic
qualification, and is a member of some "body/association" where the
public can go to check up upon their qualification if necessary.

To that extent, whatever a CORGI engineer is called this week may
well qualify.

That's not the traditional meaning, though, is it? The traditional
meaning is basically a group of upper-middle-class jobs which have come
to be called 'the professions' through custom - law, medicine,
architecture, accountancy, the priesthood.

But you've just listed jobs that fit my definition.

i don't think you can carry that old definition forward and include
plumbers and gas fitters - or indeed consulting software architects
such as myself.

Is your qualification registered centrally? Maybe not, but CORGI
engineers are.

The complaint i'd make against the use of the word in this context is
that i don't think it includes bankers or managers, who i imagine make
up a larger share of the Ashford commuter market than lawyers,
architects, etc.

And then you have the property programmes' "young professionals" whoever
they are.
--
Roland Perry