"I know that there are different spellings of meter that depend on
language, such as metro in Spanish. But which is the right spelling
for English. I always thought it was meter. Why do you use metre? It
looks like it should be pronounced as met-ra or met-tray.?
It's just the US/UK divide. We say Centre/Theatre, for example. I see the
'tre' as a short 'tr'. In fact 'metr' would be the best spelling (which is how
it's spelled in Welsh). German's use 'meter', so do the dutch. I guess
Americans adopted that spelling to be consistent with the other spellings.
"I thought the meter has been the same since its inception and has
never changed. When has it changed and then by how much? I know our
English units have changed many times in history and that many places
had their own forms. But I thought the metric system was free of this
problem. "
The method used to measure out a metre has changed over the years. I'm not
prepared to accept that the very first metre is the exact same length as the
one that's used today.
"Now, isn't the word meter (or metre) derived from the Greek word
metron, meaning a measure? So, why do you say this word is French? "
Most languages source their words from other languages - English is tghe best
example of that. I meant the use of 'metre' as the meaning of a lenght based
measure - which I'm convinced was conceived in France.
"I wasn't aware that Napoleon had anything to do with the names of
the units. I thought some scientists came up with the names. "
Indeed but I'm too swayed by the argument that that period of time brought in
the metric system.
"I'm afraid I'm not up on American politics as much as I should be,
so I know even less about the EU or Europe. I'm sure the EU serves
some valuable function or it would not have lasted so long and nations
would be leaving instead of joining. "
The EU has changed it's function over the years. It was initially a good thing
(IMHO)
I won't go too much further - since it'll go way off topic. Suffice to say my
position is -'Love Europe, hate what the EU is doing to it'.
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 09:09:23 -0800
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [USMA:42514] Re: Going metric would be nice global gesture |
ajc.com
To: [email protected]; [email protected]
Stephen,
I know that there are different spellings of meter that depend on language,
such as metro in Spanish. But which is the right spelling for English. I
always thought it was meter. Why do you use metre? It looks like it should be
pronounced as met-ra or met-tray.
I thought the meter has been the same since its inception and has never
changed. When has it changed and then by how much? I know our English units
have changed many times in history and that many places had their own forms.
But I thought the metric system was free of this problem.
Now, isn't the word meter (or metre) derived from the Greek word metron,
meaning a measure? So, why do you say this word is French?
I wasn't aware that Napoleon had anything to do with the names of the units. I
thought some scientists came up with the names.
I am neither pro or anti metric either. I use what I'm confronted with. I
don't need to convert metric to English if it is used, nor do I need to convert
English to metric if it is used. I'm sure it would be better if only one is
used, but for now we have both.
I'm afraid I'm not up on American politics as much as I should be, so I know
even less about the EU or Europe. I'm sure the EU serves some valuable
function or it would not have lasted so long and nations would be leaving
instead of joining.
Jerry
From: Stephen Humphreys <[email protected]>
To: U.S. Metric Association <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2009 11:38:45 AM
Subject: [USMA:42514] Re: Going metric would be nice global gesture | ajc.com
I tend to agree that the French invented the metric system in that the unit of
length/base unit that started it all/most important unit is the metre/meter -
and if you look at the history of the metre (including it's changes over the
years, more recently to use more accurate means of measuring) then it's
difficult to discount France as being that key player initially. And, of
course, the Napoleon angle, so to speak. The 'namin g standard' I refer to is
the use of the base unit 'metre/meter'.
I actually find it a bit xenophobic to try and discount France as being the
forefathers of metric. It's almost as if it's - 'please! don't let the french
take credit! lets make it British or something!'
As for the develpoment of the metric system - I would definetly class that as
'international'.
BTW - just to be fair on a new contributor - I'm not pro-metric. I'm not
anti-metric either. I quite like the British position
of taking advantage of both systems. It's nice to use and choose inches and
millimetres and not see the world collapse into some form of measurement
abyss!! I thought I'd be fair and tell you my position there, just incase
(I've had private emails from other members saying they actually like to hear
'the other view' so to speak - although I agree with a lot of what's said here
and on occasions sit back in disbelief at what is said ).
I'm also anti-EU and pro-European - which is where I get my discomfort from
regarding the 'at all costs don't make it French' argument.
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 07:53:18 -0800
From: [email protected]
Subject: [USMA:42498] Re: Going metric would be nice global gesture | ajc.com
To: [email protected]
Stephen,
So you agree that the French invented the metric system as is the common
knowledge?
I'm not sure what you mean by French naming standards as the source. If you
mean the unit names, I would say that the original units are either of Greek or
Latin origin. Others that came later were named for scientists from various
European countries. Of course Ampere is French.
Jerry
From: Stephen Humphreys <[email protected]>
To: U.S. Metric Association <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2009 10:31:58 AM
Subject: [USMA:42496] Re: Going metric would be nice global gesture | ajc.com
I'd say that the metric system is an international invention started off by the
French (hence the french naming standards as the 'source').
CC: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: [USMA:42459] Re: Going metric would be nice global gesture | ajc.com
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 06:12:40 +1100
On 2009/01/25, at 1:21 AM, Jeremiah MacGregor wrote:
Pat,
Are you telling us the French did not invent the metric system?
Yes.
Why have we not heard this before?
Maybe you led a sheltered life.
Jerry
From: Pat Naughtin <[email protected]>
To: U.S. Metric Association <[email protected]>
Cc: USMA Metric Association <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, January 17, 2009 1:02:53
PM
Subject: [USMA:42351] Re: Going metric would be nice global gesture | ajc.com
Dear Norman,
I have just sent this to the writer of the article you refer to below.
Dear Steve Elliot-Gower, You might be interested in a revised and updated
history of the metric system that you will find at
http://www.metricationmatters.com/who-invented-the-metric-system.html Cheers,
Pat Naughtin Geelong, Australia [email protected]
On 2009/01/07, at 1:03 PM, Norman & Nancy Werling wrote:
Greg and members of USMA list,
Here is the lead op-ed piece in Monday's (2008-01-05) AJC written by a
professor at Georgia State University in Atlanta. Notice how in his later
paragraphs he mentions that idea often referred to as "American exceptionalism"
and how it may need to be eschewed.
http://www.ajc.com/search/content/opinion/stories/2009/01/05/gowered.html
Norm Werling
Cheers,
Pat Naughtin
PO Box 305 Belmont 3216,
Geelong, Australia
Phone: 61 3 5241 2008
Metric system consultant, writer, and speaker, Pat Naughtin, has helped
thousands of people and hundreds of companies upgrade to the modern metric
system smoothly, quickly, and so economically that they now save thousands each
year when buying, processing, or selling for their businesses. Pat provides
services and resources for many different trades, crafts, and professions for
commercial, industrial and government metrication leaders in Asia, Europe, and
in the USA. Pat's clients include the Australian Government, Google, NASA,
NIST, and the metric associations of Canada, the UK, and the USA. See
http://www.metricationmatters.com for more metrication information, contact Pat
at [email protected] or to get the free 'Metrication matters'
newsletter go to: http://www.metricationmatters.com/newsletter to subscribe.
Cheers,
Pat Naughtin
PO Box 305 Belmont 3216,
Geelong, Australia
Phone: 61 3 5241 2008
Metric system consultant, writer, and speaker, Pat Naughtin, has helped
thousands of people and hundreds of companies upgrade to the modern metric
system smoothly, quickly, and so economically that they now save thousands each
year when buying, processing, or selling for their businesses. Pat provides
services and resources for many different trades, crafts, and professions for
commercial, industrial and government metrication leaders in Asia, Europe, and
in the USA. Pat's clients include the Australian Government, Google, NASA,
NIST, and the metric associations of Canada, the UK, and the USA. See
http://www.metricationmatters.com for more metrication information, contact Pat
at [email protected] or to get the free 'Metrication matters'
newsletter go to: http://www.metricationmatters.com/newsletter to subscribe.
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