Again? Really? We have been over this topic before.
See the
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_and_British_English_spelling_differences
article.
-re, -er[edit]
In British English, some words from French, Latin or Greek end with a
consonant followed by -re, with the -re unstressed and pronounced /əɹ/.
In American English, most of these words have the ending -er. The
difference is most common for words ending -bre or -tre: British spellings
calibre, centre, fibre, goitre, litre, lustre, manoeuvre, meagre, metre,
mitre, nitre, ochre, reconnoitre, sabre, saltpetre, sepulchre, sombre,
spectre, theatre (see exceptions) and titre all have -er in American
spelling.
Most English words that today use -er were spelled -re at one time or
another. In American English, almost all of these have become -er, while in
British English only some of them have. The latter include chapter,
December, disaster, enter, filter, letter, member, minister, monster,
November, number, October, oyster, powder, proper, September, sober and
tender. Words using the "-meter" suffix (from ancient Greek -μέτρον
via post-Classical Latin meter) have normally had the er spelling from
earliest use in English. Examples include thermometer and barometer.
The e preceding the r is kept in American-derived forms of nouns and verbs,
for example, fibers, reconnoitered, centering, which are fibres,
reconnoitred and centring respectively in British English. Centring is an
interesting example, since it is still pronounced as three syllables in
British English (/ˈsɛntərɪŋ/), yet there is no vowel letter in the
spelling corresponding to the second syllable. It is dropped for other
derivations, for example, central, fibrous, spectral. However, such
dropping cannot be deemed proof of an -re British spelling: for example,
entry and entrance come from enter, which has not been spelled entre for
centuries.
The difference relates only to root words; -er rather than -re is universal
as a suffix for agentive (reader, winner, user) and comparative (louder,
nicer) forms. One outcome is the British distinction of meter for a
measuring instrument from metre for the unit of length. However, while
"poetic metre" is often -re, pentameter, hexameter etc. are always -er. -
End of article -
Let us not let the American spelling of meter become an issue. Let us not
throw the [meter] baby out with the [American spelling] bath water. Let us
accept the bath water the way it is as long as we can get Americans to
officially adopt SI. Keep focused on the goal rather than being knit picky.
----- Message from Harold_Potsdamer <harold_potsda...@cox.net> ---------
Date: Sun, 8 Jun 2014 20:56:24 -0400
From: Harold_Potsdamer <harold_potsda...@cox.net>
Reply-To: harold_potsda...@cox.net
Subject: [USMA:53942] Re: YOUR LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL REQUEST - LC0044
To: "U.S. Metric Association" <usma@colostate.edu>
“I tend to agree with the opinion that forcing British spelling will
make the SI LESS acceptable to Americans.”
Is there some form of proof to back this claim up or is this just a
personal opinion?
Can you supply any information that shows two different spellings
for metre within the same language? I can see that each language may
spell it differently according to their particular language rules, but
the SI units have one spelling in each language. Having a variation of
spelling within English to me can be a turn-off as it makes SI units
appear divided and inconsistent. It also makes the US look arrogant and
haughty and the creating a spelling difference has no logical basis
other than a crude attempt to create division within a coherent and
consistent international system.
The US doesn’t even use SI in general practice and creating
unnecessary variations and interpretations from the rest of the English
speaking world makes it very apparent that the US is trying to damage
the SI and not adopt and spends more time coming up with phoney excuses
instead of general adoption.
FROM: cont...@metricpioneer.com
SENT: Sunday, 2014-06-08 10:55
TO: U.S. Metric Association[1]
SUBJECT: [USMA:53940] Re: YOUR LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL REQUEST -
LC0044
I tend to agree with the opinion that forcing British spelling
will make the SI LESS acceptable to Americans. The Chinese spell meter
the Chinese way - 計 (Traditional) and 计 (Simplified). The Russians
spell
meter the Russian way - метр. Israelies spell meter in Hebrew -
מטר.
Spaniards spell meter in Spanish - metro.. In Indonesia they spell meter
like Americans - meter. In Greece they spell meter in Greek -
μετρητής.
Shall I go on? Check out https://translate.google.com/
----- Message from "John M. Steele" <jmsteele9...@sbcglobal.net>
---------
Date: Sun, 8 Jun 2014 06:40:24 -0700 (PDT)
From: "John M. Steele" <jmsteele9...@sbcglobal.net>
Reply-To: "John M. Steele" <jmsteele9...@sbcglobal.net>
Subject: [USMA:53937] Re: YOUR LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL REQUEST - LC0044
To: "U.S. Metric Association" <usma@colostate.edu>
Well, the American version is the law. Congress amend the Metric Act
of 1866 to the current text in 2007. Copying the text from the USMA
Metric Laws page. The final phrase is an indirect reference to SP 330
which is issued over signature of the SoC. Further, I think forcing
British spelling will make the SI LESS acceptable to Americans, the
last thing we need.
U.S. CODE
TITLE 15
COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 6
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES AND STANDARD TIME
SUBCHAPTER I
WEIGHTS, MEASURES, AND STANDARDS GENERALLY
SEC. 204. METRIC SYSTEM AUTHORIZED
It shall be lawful throughout the United States of America
to employ the weights and measures of the metric system; and no
contract or dealing, or pleading in any court, shall be deemed invalid
or liable to objection because the weights or measures expressed or
referred to therein are weights or measures of the metric system.
SEC. 205. METRIC SYSTEM DEFINED
The metric system of measurement shall be defined as the
International System of Units as established in 1960, and subsequently
maintained, by the General Conference of Weights and Measures, and as
interpreted or modified for the United States by the Secretary of
Commerce.
On Sunday, June 8, 2014 7:46 AM, Harold_Potsdamer
<harold_potsda...@cox.net> wrote:
It would appear then
that the NIST policy on using “American English” instead of
“International English” is designed to impair communication and
reduce
the usefulness of a report. Seeing that we are trying to adopt the
International System of Units and not the American System of Units, we
should be promoting it using the version of English accepted in most
of the world. SI loses some of its international flavour when it is
modified based on location.
FROM: Martin
Vlietstra[2]
SENT: Sunday, 2014-06-08 01:24
TO: U.S. Metric Association[1]
SUBJECT: [USMA:53934] Re: YOUR LEGISLATIVE
COUNSEL REQUEST - LC0044
It might be worthwhile citing the NIST document NIST SP 330 as well.
The Wikipedia article states “The United States National Institute of
Standards and Technology has produced a version of the CGPM document
(NIST SP 330) which clarifies local interpretation for
English-language publications that use American English”.
Regards
Martin Vlietstra
FROM: owner-u...@colostate.edu [mailto:owner-u...@colostate.edu]
ON BEHALF OF cont...@metricpioneer.com
SENT: 07 June 2014 23:37
TO: U.S. Metric Association
SUBJECT: [USMA:53928] Re: YOUR LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL REQUEST - LC0044
Have a look at reference 83 in the Wikipedia
article you share with us. Here is a quote from it:
Henceforth it shall be the policy of the National Bureau of Standards
to use the units of the International System (SI), as adopted by the
11th General Conference of Weights and Measures, except when the use
of these units would obviously impair communication or reduce the
usefulness of a report.
See: http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/units/usmetric.html
----- Message from ezra.steinb...@comcast.net ---------
Date: Sat, 7 Jun 2014 22:26:46 +0000 (UTC)
From: ezra.steinb...@comcast.net
Reply-To: ezra.steinb...@comcast.net
Subject: [USMA:53927] Re: YOUR LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL REQUEST - LC0044
To: "U.S. Metric Association" <usma@colostate.edu>
Cc: USMA <usma@colostate.edu>
The only problem with "international system" is that it is extremely
generic. There are many international systems of XXX in the world
today, so not using the complete name leaves a lot of ambiguity,
unforuntately.
FROM:
cont...@metricpioneer.com
TO: "USMA" <usma@colostate.edu>
SENT: Saturday, June 7, 2014 3:22:28 PM
SUBJECT: [USMA:53926] Re: YOUR LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL REQUEST - LC0044
Yes Ezra. Your statement is correct,
however, just as the symbol for International System is SI (after the
French initials) so too I think it is better not to overload
Americans with too many words. Most Americans erroneously still know
SI as metric system, a term that I think no one still uses (except
for Americans). The symbol is not SIU. The symbol is SI, so SI
literally represents the two words - Système International - which
translates into English - International System. This way, Americans
who might hate the metric system might get the idea that the
International System is something newer and better, which it actually
is, after all. What term do you all use when you discuss SI? Do you
say SI? Do you say metric system? Do you say International System? Do
you say International System of units? Or do you speak French? I
would love to know. By the way, I typically say International System
when I discuss the matter with people. (Sometimes I have to explain
that the former term metric system had expired in 1960..)
----- Message from ezra.steinb...@comcast.net ---------
Date: Sat, 7 Jun 2014 21:51:13 +0000 (UTC)
From: ezra.steinb...@comcast.net
Reply-To: ezra.steinb...@comcast.net
Subject: [USMA:53925] Re: YOUR LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL REQUEST - LC0044
To: "U.S. Metric Association" <usma@colostate.edu>
Cc: USMA <usma@colostate.edu>
But isn't the official name of the modern metric system
"International System of Units" (English translation of /Le Système
international d'unités/)?
See
for example
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_System_of_Units
Regards,
Ezra
FROM:
cont...@metricpioneer.com
TO: "USMA" <usma@colostate.edu>
SENT: Saturday, June 7, 2014 2:45:08 PM
SUBJECT: [USMA:53924] Re: YOUR LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL REQUEST - LC0044
Below please see (1) LEGISLATIVE
COUNSEL message to my government representative Cameron and (2)
Denyc Boles message to me and (3) my reply. Please have a look at
attached pdf of LC0044_DRAFT_2015_Regular_Session and
LC0044_BB_2015_Regular_Session and let me know what you think. For
those of you who may not remember, I submitted leglislation to the
Oregon government that is modelled on that of Hawaii HB36. I am so
happy that this finally got drafted. When I got notice about foot
dragging, I wrote a letter to Governor Kitzhaber; I have no idea
whether my letter to governor was the cause of getting them to move
forward on this.
----- Message from cont...@metricpioneer.com ---------
Date: Sat, 07 Jun 2014 14:26:02 -0700
From: cont...@metricpioneer.com
Subject: Re: YOUR LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL REQUEST - LC0044
To: Boles Denyc <mailto:denyc.bo...@state..or.us>
The metric system became the International System in 1960, so that
old terminology is out of date. Please change all metric system
references in LC 44 to International System. Is that possible?
Thanks a million for getting this drafted. I am so happy! Please
reply to let me know that you got this message.
----- Message from Boles Denyc <denyc.bo...@state.or.us> ---------
Date: Fri, 6 Jun 2014 21:43:40 +0000
From: Boles Denyc <denyc.bo...@state.or.us>
Subject: FW: YOUR LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL REQUEST - LC0044
To: "cont...@metricpioneer.com" <cont...@metricpioneer.com>
David –
Yay, we finally got the
draft.. Please review it and let me know what you think. Right
now HD 19 is in transition as Rep. Cameron was sworn in as a
Marion County Commissioner earlier this week. But I will make
sure that the process continues in the interim.
Sincerely,
Denyc Boles
Transition Staff
House District 19
503-986-1419
FROM: LC Delivery
SENT: Friday, June 06, 2014 2:28 PM
TO: Rep Cameron
SUBJECT: YOUR LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL REQUEST - LC0044
Attached is your completed
request from Legislative Counsel.. Please review your draft or
amendment for accuracy. If you require any changes, you may
submit them electronically to lc.requ...@state.or.us or bring a
hard copy to our office, S-101.
If a bill back is attached
and you have questions, please contact either the Chief Clerk’s
office (6-1870) or the Secretary of the Senate (6-1851) for
clarification.
----- End message from Boles Denyc <denyc.bo...@state.or.us> -----
David Pearl http://www.metricpioneer.com/ 503-428-4917
----- End message from cont...@metricpioneer.com -----
David Pearl http://www.metricpioneer.com/ 503-428-4917
----- End message from ezra.steinb...@comcast.net -----
David
Pearl http://www.metricpioneer.com/ 503-428-4917
----- End message from ezra.steinb...@comcast.net -----
David Pearl
http://www.metricpioneer.com/ 503-428-4917
----- End message from "John M. Steele" <jmsteele9...@sbcglobal.net>
-----
David Pearl www.MetricPioneer.com[3] 503-428-4917
----- End message from Harold_Potsdamer <harold_potsda...@cox.net> -----
Links:
------
[1] mailto:usma@colostate.edu
[2] mailto:vliets...@btinternet.com
[3] http://www.MetricPioneer.com
David Pearl www.MetricPioneer.com 503-428-4917
