tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post1699971205883784328..comments2024-03-27T18:20:38.176-05:00Comments on TYWKIWDBI ("Tai-Wiki-Widbee"): JoyMinnesotastanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01382888179579245181noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-29869450357388275042013-10-02T21:22:22.323-05:002013-10-02T21:22:22.323-05:00If you absolutely have to be right, you can just p...If you absolutely have to be right, you can just pronounce the letters individually, as one would do with, say a BLT sandwich. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-23695435526677584872013-05-26T07:37:49.044-05:002013-05-26T07:37:49.044-05:00I've been mulling this over for a few days. I ...I've been mulling this over for a few days. I actually had students give me grief in the middle of a class I was teaching because I pronounced GIF with the soft G as I've done all my life. The internet is supposed to be a place where everyone can be free to express themselve, but it also seems to be a place where the mob rules. Might makes right, with "might" meaning sheer numbers.<br /><br />Not that the pronunciation of an acronym is really that important (one friend likened it to the pronunciation of "Linux"), but many really do care and that seems to bother me. I can't figure out why.<br /><br />I started thinking about this issue as an example of the changing nature of authority. Yes, I'm reading into it too much. But the internet does seem to change how we view experts, scientists, politicians, and others with authority. I get a sense that everyone is their own authority here because we can find websites to back up our own claims. And if enough of us agree on an opinion then it becomes "true." If it appears on Wikipedia then it must be right.<br /><br />So the creator of the GIF, despite being a real "authority" on the file format, has no authority, has no legitimate say because enough people disagree. The "evidence" of how different G-words are said are merely incidental to the real argument: "You're wrong because we say so." <br /><br />Frankly, this scares me.<br /><br />(end pretentious rant)Jonathan Schnapphttp://flimsyrobot.tumblr.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-12580159374313593012013-05-24T07:47:11.080-05:002013-05-24T07:47:11.080-05:00My thanks to Adrian for linking to my old post on ...My thanks to Adrian for linking to my old post on the pronunciation of <i>GIF</i>. <br /><br />For what it's worth, I wrote a <a href="http://stancarey.wordpress.com/2013/05/24/you-can-pronounce-gif-any-way-you-like/" rel="nofollow">follow-up post</a> this morning to address the latest silly fuss. Summary: you can say <i>GIF</i> any way you like. Language tolerates variation, even if some of its users don't.<br /><br />I love the photo, and you've titled it well.Stanhttp://stancarey.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-41293922033181957582013-05-24T06:30:02.276-05:002013-05-24T06:30:02.276-05:00When a word has been pronounced the same way for 2...When a word has been pronounced the same way for 20 years, it gets totally in-grained. Language is like that -- no one is in charge, even the man who created the format. Think of Alexander Graham Bell who wanted us to answer the phone by saying "Ahoy!" -- even though it was his invention, he didn't get his way on that.rickterpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-53406407437858347572013-05-23T19:53:38.142-05:002013-05-23T19:53:38.142-05:00It is interesting how sharply defensive people can...It is interesting how sharply defensive people can get when told they are pronouncing a word incorrectly. It's an acronym, sweethearts—it doesn't have official pronunciation rules. Let it go.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-5818352328551638912013-05-23T19:16:40.464-05:002013-05-23T19:16:40.464-05:00An inventor is perfectly entitled to let us know t...An inventor is perfectly entitled to let us know their preference, but is not entitled to declare that any other pronunciation is 'incorrect' once the term enters into common use.<br /><br />Stan Carey has a <a href="http://stancarey.wordpress.com/2012/12/12/how-do-you-pronounce-gif-does-it-matter/" rel="nofollow">blog post</a> on the subject, which won't convince anyone predisposed to disagree, but is a good summary of the case against the inventor's authority.Adrian Morganhttp://outerhoard.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-2614412755040494142013-05-23T18:55:54.639-05:002013-05-23T18:55:54.639-05:00Hard G, as in Graphics. For Graphics Interchange ...Hard G, as in Graphics. For Graphics Interchange Formula. The "author" isn't being particularly smart about this. And he's not going to change it. Tough luck. Zhoenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03515663141425057088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-25562268808606848172013-05-23T18:50:56.736-05:002013-05-23T18:50:56.736-05:00@BJNicholls I think the inventor of the letter G i...@BJNicholls I think the inventor of the letter G is entitled to say how G is pronounced.Danackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02601944007304070805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-47941758634263034262013-05-23T18:21:58.714-05:002013-05-23T18:21:58.714-05:00Someone ought to send the inventor a "jift&qu...Someone ought to send the inventor a "jift" for "jiving" us this wonderful image format.rickterpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-75347089057810119552013-05-23T14:31:39.252-05:002013-05-23T14:31:39.252-05:00soubriquet, the link for the pronunciation of Imgu...soubriquet, the link for the pronunciation of Imgur is their FAQ page:<br /><br />"How do you pronounce Imgur?<br />Imgur is pronounced like image-er; imager."Minnesotastanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01382888179579245181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-60776360568675263112013-05-23T13:58:31.709-05:002013-05-23T13:58:31.709-05:00This dog looks like he's having the best time ...This dog looks like he's having the best time just enjoying the wind streaming by. <br /><br />As for the pronunciation of GIF, the soft g is also found in giraffe. I'd differ to the inventor for preferred pronunciation.Cathy Mnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-43979946884535048312013-05-23T13:05:43.840-05:002013-05-23T13:05:43.840-05:00@soubriquet, I think the inventor of the format is...@soubriquet, I think the inventor of the format is entitled to say how GIF is pronounced. BJ Nichollshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04525256614467299544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-67327209187359759042013-05-23T12:38:02.925-05:002013-05-23T12:38:02.925-05:00The 'g' in graphics is a hard G, not a J,...The 'g' in graphics is a hard G, not a J, as in Jiff. Therefore GIF is pronounced GIF. Not JIF.<br /><br />And Imgur has no 'a', so it's NOT pronounced 'Imager'.<br /><br />That's as silly as that Irish bloke who insist he's called Bonno, but can't spell it.soubriquethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01151288534629885195noreply@blogger.com