I did go to translate.google.com and translate centimeter from English
to French (centimètre). And I used the "speaker" button to listen to
both sides.
What a surprise! The English word "centimeter" is pronounced the way an
English person would pronounce it. And the French word "centimètre" is
pronounced the way a French person would pronounce it.
Whoda thunkit.
Yes, in the joint meetings of ISO/TC 12 and IEC/TC 25 working groups
that I have attended, I have heard speakers (European) use the French
pronunciation when speaking in English. I also have heard others (also
European -- including some French speakers!) use the English pronunciation.
Here's the funny thing. Nobody got confused. We ignored those differing
pronunciations and got on with the task at hand. Maybe this
pronunciation hobgoblin is a paper tiger. It just doesn't matter!
(Except to USMA mail list posters, that is.)
Jim
--
James R. Frysinger
632 Stoney Point Mountain Road
Doyle TN 38559-3030
(C) 931.212.0267
(H) 931.657.3107
(F) 931.657.3108
On 2014-06-25 10:46, cont...@metricpioneer.com wrote:
Just for fun, consider clicking on the little speaker on the French side
when you go to Translate Google for centimeter (be sure that you have
your speakers turned on): https://translate.google.com/#nl/fr/centimeter
----- Message from Remek Kocz <rek...@gmail.com
<mailto:rek...@gmail.com>> ---------
Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2014 20:51:27 -0400
From: Remek Kocz <rek...@gmail.com <mailto:rek...@gmail.com>>
Reply-To: rek...@gmail.com <mailto:rek...@gmail.com>
Subject: [USMA:54027] "Sonometer" and French units
To: "U.S. Metric Association" <usma@colostate.edu
<mailto:usma@colostate.edu>>
Some of you here might find this mildly amusing, but most will
probably groan. I know I do. In medicine, some doctors like to
pronounce the word centimeter as "sont-o-meter" or "sonometer" if
spoken quickly. Why? Probably because it sounds French and it gives
an impression of using a specialized or esoteric unit unique to the
field. Informally, I noticed that the trend towards this
pronunciation is among the specialties that use centimeters the
least. Internal medicine docs tend to say it that way, while surgeons
or obstetricians who use centimeters daily, usually say things correctly.
Speaking of things French: A curiosity in terms of medical measurement
is the existence of "French" units. They are exactly 1/3 mm and are
used to represent diameters of various catheters (intravenous,
bladder) and tubes. Usually abbreviated "Fr" or sometimes "F." So
something that's 3 Fr, is 1 mm in diameter.
----- End message from Remek Kocz <rek...@gmail.com
<mailto:rek...@gmail.com>> -----
David Pearl www.MetricPioneer.com <http://www.MetricPioneer.com>
503-428-4917
