Brian,
Is it possible then, for an abbreviation to become an acronym?
For example, WYSIWYG, should be an abbreviation but, over the years we've
learned to pronounce it as "Whiz-e-wig".
Bill Kasprzak
Moog Inc.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Brian Ellis [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Tuesday, February 27, 2001 4:31 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [TN] Getting More, and Not Paying More
>
> Steve
>
> If you think acronym is an acronym, have another think coming: it is of
> pure Greek origin. Your "explanation" possibly has a name, but I don't
> know it. The following are cut and pasted from the electronic Oxford
> dictionary:
>
> acronym // n.
> a word, usu. pronounced as such, formed from the initial letters of
> other words (e.g. Ernie, laser, Nato).
> [Greek akron 'end' + onuma = onoma 'name']
>
> abbreviation / / n.
> 1 an abbreviated form, esp. a shortened form of a word or phrase.
> 2 the process or result of abbreviating.
> [Middle English via Late Latin abbreviare 'shorten' from Latin brevis
> 'short': cf. abridge]
>
> I bring to your attention the essential difference between these. If you
> pronounce an abbreviation as a word and not letters, then - and only
> then - it is an acronym. Thus, for example, DFM is an abbreviation and
> not an acronym, because your say it 'dee-eff-emm'. Laser (Light
> Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) is an acronym,
> because it is usually pronounced 'layzer' and not 'ell-ay-ess-ee-are',
> which it would be, were it a simple abbreviation.
>
> What does 'Steve' mean? Some Times Even Very Eloquent?
>
> Here endeth the first lesson.
>
> Brian
> "Stephen R. Gregory" wrote:
> >
> > > O.K. Rick.....What does TANSTAAFL mean?
> >
> > Hey all!
> >
> > Sitting here eating lunch, I found this:
> >
> > http://www.astro.umd.edu/~marshall/abbrev.html
> >
> > It's got just about every acronym defined that you could think of there,
> all
> > in alphabetical order...in fact, did you know that acronym is a acronym?
> >
> > ACRONYM = Abbreviated Coded Rendition Of Name Yielding Meaning
> >
> > There was some pretty good ones there...I was ROTFLMAAOBPO!!!
> >
> > PCMCIA,
> >
> > -Steve Gregory-
> >
> >
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