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Common pronunciations of Linux directories, commands, etc. (2017)

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Re: Common pronunciations of Linux directories, commands, etc. (2017)

#81

Post by dschuetz »

BossingAround wrote: post #73

I found there is this "pride in the correct pronunciation" in the opensource community. It seems to be a signal of a group membership and a creed validator. Who cares though? Why does "correct pronunciation" matter? Linux is nowadays used by many more non-native English speakers who will pronounce it very differently. This attempt at correcting others seems like gatekeeping and, to me personally, feels like a very an…

Jeez, how did you get from correct pronunciation to anti-inclusive?!

Most people just want to know what you are talking about when you say libe or cat slash prots slash mem in fo or worse.

Nothing is more infuriating when people start using wrong words in a 10h telco instead of agreed upon vocabulary, which includes the correct pronunciation! Scratch correct. It's the agreed upon pronunciation we all ought to use when working together.

Re: Common pronunciations of Linux directories, commands, etc. (2017)

#82

Post by dvirsky »

BossingAround wrote: post #73

I found there is this "pride in the correct pronunciation" in the opensource community. It seems to be a signal of a group membership and a creed validator. Who cares though? Why does "correct pronunciation" matter? Linux is nowadays used by many more non-native English speakers who will pronounce it very differently. This attempt at correcting others seems like gatekeeping and, to me personally, feels like a very an…

It takes some getting used to this idea, but I try to remember that when someone mispronounces an uncommon word or jargon term, it means that they're getting all their information through textual means - which probably means they don't have people close to them with the same interests or intellectual curiosity. That usually means, especially if it's a younger person, that they are smart and probably lonely.

Re: Common pronunciations of Linux directories, commands, etc. (2017)

#84

Post by bobowzki »

dvirsky wrote: post #82
BossingAround wrote: post #73

I found there is this "pride in the correct pronunciation" in the opensource community. It seems to be a signal of a group membership and a creed validator. Who cares though? Why does "correct pronunciation" matter? Linux is nowadays used by many more non-native English speakers who will pronounce it very differently. This attempt at correcting others seems like gatekeeping and, to me personally, feels like a very an…

It takes some getting used to this idea, but I try to remember that when someone mispronounces an uncommon word or jargon term, it means that they're getting all their information through textual means - which probably means they don't have people close to them with the same interests or intellectual curiosity. That usually means, especially if it's a younger person, that they are smart and probably lonely.

This was certainly true when I got started with Un*x in the late 90s.

Re: Common pronunciations of Linux directories, commands, etc. (2017)

#85

Post by elric »

simonblack wrote: post #37
hodgesrm wrote: post #8

MySQL pronunciation can be "My S Q L" or "My Sequel." I think most people in the community probably use the latter, but truthfully most of us don't really care. The "S Q L" vs. "Sequel" split has existed almost as long as SQL itself. The original name for the language was "SEQUEL." [1] [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SQL#History

I read once that somebody pronounced SQL as 'squeal' which leads to mysql being pronounced as 'my-squeal'. Rightly or wrongly, I prefer that pronunciation too. It's less cumbersome.

Yes, it's often pronounced that way in my circle of friends, as a way of bashing MySQL, after all, it makes one squeal in terror. Although this started in the late 90s, back when MySQL was pretty awful. These days it's pretty decent.

Re: Common pronunciations of Linux directories, commands, etc. (2017)

#86

Post by rdiddly »

BossingAround wrote: post #73

I found there is this "pride in the correct pronunciation" in the opensource community. It seems to be a signal of a group membership and a creed validator. Who cares though? Why does "correct pronunciation" matter? Linux is nowadays used by many more non-native English speakers who will pronounce it very differently. This attempt at correcting others seems like gatekeeping and, to me personally, feels like a very an…

I actually can't believe anyone says "etsy." If they ever do, I'm gonna be confused momentarily. And I'm not gonna follow suit, I'm gonna say E T C. If I ever get a friend.

PS I also say "libe." As if shortening the word library.

Re: Common pronunciations of Linux directories, commands, etc. (2017)

#87

Post by cortesoft »

electricant wrote: post #67

"Joe said "cat proc cpuinfo". Scott wasn't getting it so Joe said "no.. no, type cat slash proc slash cpuinfo" and eventually got on the keyboard himself." This part really resonated with me. I always find it hard to tell commands to people. Anyway I never reach for their keyboard. I try to take the blame myself for not spelling out the command correcty, this way they don't feel mistaken and take a defensive stance.

I think this is also about the level of knowledge about what you are doing... if Scott didn't know about /proc/cpuinfo, it is more likely he wouldn't know to put the slashes.

Re: Common pronunciations of Linux directories, commands, etc. (2017)

#88

Post by combatentropy »

BossingAround wrote: post #73

I found there is this "pride in the correct pronunciation" in the opensource community. It seems to be a signal of a group membership and a creed validator. Who cares though? Why does "correct pronunciation" matter? Linux is nowadays used by many more non-native English speakers who will pronounce it very differently. This attempt at correcting others seems like gatekeeping and, to me personally, feels like a very an…

It is for the same reason that anyone ever nudges anyone else about pronunciation, spelling, or grammar: speed of communication.

If you pronounce "/etc" as "et cetera", then it will add a step in me parsing your speech ("Oh, he means 'etsy'").

Second, now I have an awkward decision to make when speaking back to you. Do I adapt my pronunciation to yours for the length of this conversation? Or do I pronounce it my way, causing the extra step in your translation of my speech, then also causing you to wonder why I am saying it differently, furthermore causing you to consider whether to change your pronunciation to mine, if nothing else to end this extra thought process every time?

Also, if I adapt my pronunciation to yours, I guess now I need to remember to say it your way every time we talk forever, and say it Henry's way when speaking to him, and now I have this whole table in my head of various pronunciations for various individuals.

And then what happens if I am in conversation with you and Henry at the same time? Do I say things your way, his way, or my way? And what do you do? And what does Henry do?

---

Or we could just stop, agree upon a common pronunciation, and move forward at the normal speed of conversation.

---

To clarify, the tone never should be condescending. This is a small matter. Therefore the tone should be light.

The pronunciation that is deemed "correct" is usually the one of the majority. So it is just an attempt to get everyone on the same page. It strikes me more as "inclusive" than "anti-inclusive". If I were "anti-inclusive", then I would silently let you say it your way, smile inside, and then talk behind your back to Henry about what a newb you are.

Re: Common pronunciations of Linux directories, commands, etc. (2017)

#89

Post by MiguelX413 »

dschuetz wrote: post #81
BossingAround wrote: post #73

I found there is this "pride in the correct pronunciation" in the opensource community. It seems to be a signal of a group membership and a creed validator. Who cares though? Why does "correct pronunciation" matter? Linux is nowadays used by many more non-native English speakers who will pronounce it very differently. This attempt at correcting others seems like gatekeeping and, to me personally, feels like a very an…

Jeez, how did you get from correct pronunciation to anti-inclusive ?! Most people just want to know what you are talking about when you say libe or cat slash prots slash mem in fo or worse. Nothing is more infuriating when people start using wrong words in a 10h telco instead of agreed upon vocabulary, which includes the correct pronunciation! Scratch correct . It's the agreed upon pronunciation we all ought to use w…

Can you not understand that the complaint is about the “correct” pronunciation being unintuitive?

Re: Common pronunciations of Linux directories, commands, etc. (2017)

#90

Post by elric »

Blikkentrekker wrote: post #5

> chmod: as one syllable.. rhymes with 'nod' This is easy to do for many? In my experience, Anglo-Saxons can seldom pronounce “ GNU ” in one syllable, but they can this?

> Anglo-Saxons can seldom pronounce “GNU” in one syllable

That's ... weird. It's pretty similar to "knee", but with an "oo" sound. Are you saying people pronounce "ge-noo"?

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