Technically, I agree
with you. Although initialism is a very rarely used word, it does fit the
situation.
The fact remains,
though, that the 11th CGPM defined SI as an abbreviation.
It's also a fact that
even my very large Webster's dictionary does not contain the word initialism;
nor does the Oxford American Dictionary. I would check the on-line OED (where I
know I'll find it), but I'm having trouble getting to it (through the Quality
Paperback Book Club web site, as a free member service) at the moment. (I've
notified them of the problem.)
According to the page at
http://www.saila.com/usage/acronym/,
the Oxford Dictionary does, indeed, define initialism -- exactly as your
reference does.
Bill Potts, CMS
Roseville,
CA
http://metric1.org [SI
Navigator]
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]On Behalf Of Hillger, Don
Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2003 11:44
To: U.S. Metric Association
Subject: [USMA:26038] RE: my German friend never heard of SIBill,Technically, SI should be called an "initialism" defined below as distinct from either an acronym or an abbreviation:
- An acronym is composed of the initial letters or parts of a compound term. It is usually read or spoken as a single word, rather than letter by letter. Examples include ADEOS (ADvanced Earth Observing Satellite) and Landsat (Land Satellite).
- An initialism is also composed of the initial letters or parts of a compound term, but is generally verbalized letter by letter, rather than as a single "word." Examples include ATS (Application Technology Satellite) and DMSP (Defense Meteorological Satellite Program).
- An abbreviation is a shortened for of a word or words that does not follow the formation of either of the above.
These definitions come from an acronym/initialism dictionary found in the reference section of most libraries.Since SI is pronounced "ess-eye" it should be an initialism!Don-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Potts [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Thursday, 2003 June 12 12:29
To: U.S. Metric Association
Subject: [USMA:26037] RE: my German friend never heard of SIThis is getting to be quite bizarre. It quite clearly does not agree with Gene and you. Implicit in the description is that pronunciation follows normal English (in this case) pronunciation conventions. (There is no explicit allowance for exceptions to that.)You say the you pronounce SI as ess-eye. That is pronouncing it as an abbreviation and not as a word.See, also, my exchange with Pat Naughtin. The SI brochure itself clearly identifies it as an abbreviation.If you loosely use the word acronym for abbreviation, you remove all distinction between the two words, thus rendering at least one of them useless.Bill Potts, CMS
Roseville, CA
http://metric1.org [SI Navigator]-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]On Behalf Of Joseph B. Reid
Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2003 07:49
To: U.S. Metric Association
Subject: [USMA:26035] RE: my German friend never heard of SIBill Potts wrote in USMA 26021:A definitive description of what an acronym is and is not is in the New York Public Library Desk Reference. Here it is:Acronyms are pronounceable formations made by combining the initial letters or syllables of a string of words. Some abbreviations look like acronyms, but are listed as abbreviations because they are not pronounced as words, for example, CIA (usually pronounced "C-I-A") and DAR (usually pronounced "D-A-R"). A few acronyms may be pronounced either as words ("REM") or as abbreviations ("R-E-M").I am glad that the New York Public Library agrees with Gene and me.
17 Glebe Road West
Toronto M5P 1C8Telephone 416-486-6071
