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 Sent: Sunday, 2014-06-08 01:24 To: U.S. Metric Association 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 www.MetricPioneer.com 503-428-4917 ----- End message from cont...@metricpioneer.com ----- David Pearl www.MetricPioneer.com 503-428-4917 ----- End message from ezra.steinb...@comcast.net ----- David Pearl www.MetricPioneer.com 503-428-4917 ----- End message from ezra.steinb...@comcast.net ----- David Pearl www.MetricPioneer.com 503-428-4917
