Comments on: When acronyms lose their original meanings: a post for your FYI http://linguisticmystic.com/2007/05/05/when-acronyms-lose-their-original-meanings-a-post-for-your-fyi/ Fri, 25 Jul 2008 08:26:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: will http://linguisticmystic.com/2007/05/05/when-acronyms-lose-their-original-meanings-a-post-for-your-fyi/#comment-833 will Mon, 24 Mar 2008 02:55:35 +0000 http://linguisticmystic.com/2007/05/05/when-acronyms-lose-their-original-meanings-a-post-for-your-fyi/#comment-833 Eric, You do raise valid points, and my capitalization is certainly unorthodox, if patterned at all. Perhaps I should pay more attention, but at the same time, capitalization errors are quite innocuous, so I have some trouble getting overly concerned. Regardless, I appreciate your post (and should have thought of SAM Missile), and am glad you enjoy the site! Will Eric,

You do raise valid points, and my capitalization is certainly unorthodox, if patterned at all. Perhaps I should pay more attention, but at the same time, capitalization errors are quite innocuous, so I have some trouble getting overly concerned.

Regardless, I appreciate your post (and should have thought of SAM Missile), and am glad you enjoy the site!

Will

]]> By: eric http://linguisticmystic.com/2007/05/05/when-acronyms-lose-their-original-meanings-a-post-for-your-fyi/#comment-823 eric Tue, 04 Mar 2008 18:31:31 +0000 http://linguisticmystic.com/2007/05/05/when-acronyms-lose-their-original-meanings-a-post-for-your-fyi/#comment-823 Hi Will. Interesting site you have here. As others have pointed out "ATM machine" and "PIN number" are the most common examples of what you're discussing in this post. "SAM missile" is one the news folks like a lot. One thing to note: if you're going to muse on things linguistic, it seems that you should be held to a higher standard of English. You should know that subjects like "linguistics" (see your comment response above) aren't capitalized because they're not proper nouns. Also, "master's degree" is not capitalized (and is possessive), but Master of Arts degree is capitalized (your "About the Author" section). Please know that I'm not being picky here for the sake of pickiness. I like your site and a lot of your considerations of language, but I feel you will lose credibility in the eyes of other linguists if it's clear that you are careless with common usage rules. Anyway, keep up the good work! I'll be back to read more. Hi Will. Interesting site you have here.

As others have pointed out “ATM machine” and “PIN number” are the most common examples of what you’re discussing in this post. “SAM missile” is one the news folks like a lot.

One thing to note: if you’re going to muse on things linguistic, it seems that you should be held to a higher standard of English. You should know that subjects like “linguistics” (see your comment response above) aren’t capitalized because they’re not proper nouns. Also, “master’s degree” is not capitalized (and is possessive), but Master of Arts degree is capitalized (your “About the Author” section).

Please know that I’m not being picky here for the sake of pickiness. I like your site and a lot of your considerations of language, but I feel you will lose credibility in the eyes of other linguists if it’s clear that you are careless with common usage rules.

Anyway, keep up the good work! I’ll be back to read more.

]]> By: malcolmxpark.org » The Sex Machine http://linguisticmystic.com/2007/05/05/when-acronyms-lose-their-original-meanings-a-post-for-your-fyi/#comment-550 malcolmxpark.org » The Sex Machine Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:09:45 +0000 http://linguisticmystic.com/2007/05/05/when-acronyms-lose-their-original-meanings-a-post-for-your-fyi/#comment-550 [...] (And just as a side note, if that phrase “for your FYI” really bothers you, you can read some thoughts on it here.) [...] […] (And just as a side note, if that phrase “for your FYI” really bothers you, you can read some thoughts on it here.) […]

]]> By: The Ridger http://linguisticmystic.com/2007/05/05/when-acronyms-lose-their-original-meanings-a-post-for-your-fyi/#comment-466 The Ridger Sat, 14 Jul 2007 14:35:16 +0000 http://linguisticmystic.com/2007/05/05/when-acronyms-lose-their-original-meanings-a-post-for-your-fyi/#comment-466 Sometimes, I believe, the acronym (or whatever) not only becomes lexicalized, but takes on its own life. Many people may never have heard the expansion. "ATM machine" is thus used to refer to the actual machine, while you can also have "ATM software" or "ATM locations" or "ATM receipt" as well the generic "ATM". Sometimes, I believe, the acronym (or whatever) not only becomes lexicalized, but takes on its own life. Many people may never have heard the expansion. “ATM machine” is thus used to refer to the actual machine, while you can also have “ATM software” or “ATM locations” or “ATM receipt” as well the generic “ATM”.

]]> By: QE http://linguisticmystic.com/2007/05/05/when-acronyms-lose-their-original-meanings-a-post-for-your-fyi/#comment-424 QE Mon, 09 Jul 2007 15:42:24 +0000 http://linguisticmystic.com/2007/05/05/when-acronyms-lose-their-original-meanings-a-post-for-your-fyi/#comment-424 Using HDD as Hard Disk Drive is quite common, so 'hd drive' might have intended HD as Hard Disk. Other than that I'm with you: one of my many pet peeves is use of self-evident tautologies [;-)]. By the way, at the risk of sounding like one of those crazy internet people: I'm really loving the blog... Using HDD as Hard Disk Drive is quite common, so ‘hd drive’ might have intended HD as Hard Disk.
Other than that I’m with you: one of my many pet peeves is use of self-evident tautologies [;-)].

By the way, at the risk of sounding like one of those crazy internet people: I’m really loving the blog…

]]> By: Tricia http://linguisticmystic.com/2007/05/05/when-acronyms-lose-their-original-meanings-a-post-for-your-fyi/#comment-412 Tricia Tue, 03 Jul 2007 05:31:42 +0000 http://linguisticmystic.com/2007/05/05/when-acronyms-lose-their-original-meanings-a-post-for-your-fyi/#comment-412 Haha, cheers for that. Unfortunately I have to decline the offer, as I am linkless. Haha, cheers for that. Unfortunately I have to decline the offer, as I am linkless.

]]> By: will http://linguisticmystic.com/2007/05/05/when-acronyms-lose-their-original-meanings-a-post-for-your-fyi/#comment-404 will Sat, 30 Jun 2007 05:53:13 +0000 http://linguisticmystic.com/2007/05/05/when-acronyms-lose-their-original-meanings-a-post-for-your-fyi/#comment-404 Very well done Tricia, that one never crossed my mind. Very nice catch. Want a sidebar link? I think that deserves recognition. Very well done Tricia, that one never crossed my mind. Very nice catch. Want a sidebar link? I think that deserves recognition.

]]> By: Tricia http://linguisticmystic.com/2007/05/05/when-acronyms-lose-their-original-meanings-a-post-for-your-fyi/#comment-403 Tricia Sat, 30 Jun 2007 05:42:05 +0000 http://linguisticmystic.com/2007/05/05/when-acronyms-lose-their-original-meanings-a-post-for-your-fyi/#comment-403 I've been reading page upon page of your blog (in backwards-chronological order) since discovering it yesterday and I stumbled upon your own error: "This is great FOSS software" (10 December 2006) For the record, I think your theory of forgetting (or not consciously thinking about) what the acronym means is spot on. Like when people in churches or other organisations name their events "FCC Church Anniversary Dinner", where "FCC" is Faith Christian Church, for example. The acronym becomes almost second-nature that people simply forget what the full organisation name is. Having said that, I do think it's more probable to make the mistake if you can easily pronounce the acronym, e.g. "FOSS", "PIN". I’ve been reading page upon page of your blog (in backwards-chronological order) since discovering it yesterday and I stumbled upon your own error:
“This is great FOSS software” (10 December 2006)

For the record, I think your theory of forgetting (or not consciously thinking about) what the acronym means is spot on. Like when people in churches or other organisations name their events “FCC Church Anniversary Dinner”, where “FCC” is Faith Christian Church, for example. The acronym becomes almost second-nature that people simply forget what the full organisation name is. Having said that, I do think it’s more probable to make the mistake if you can easily pronounce the acronym, e.g. “FOSS”, “PIN”.

]]> By: Arthaey Angosii http://linguisticmystic.com/2007/05/05/when-acronyms-lose-their-original-meanings-a-post-for-your-fyi/#comment-313 Arthaey Angosii Mon, 04 Jun 2007 07:24:57 +0000 http://linguisticmystic.com/2007/05/05/when-acronyms-lose-their-original-meanings-a-post-for-your-fyi/#comment-313 Don't forget older redundancies, such as "PIN number" and "ATM machine". As Samantha commented above, my take on this is that the acronyms just become lexicalized. Don’t forget older redundancies, such as “PIN number” and “ATM machine”. As Samantha commented above, my take on this is that the acronyms just become lexicalized.

]]> By: Dan http://linguisticmystic.com/2007/05/05/when-acronyms-lose-their-original-meanings-a-post-for-your-fyi/#comment-265 Dan Fri, 11 May 2007 11:33:51 +0000 http://linguisticmystic.com/2007/05/05/when-acronyms-lose-their-original-meanings-a-post-for-your-fyi/#comment-265 I think part of the reason why "SUV Vehicle" and "PC Computer Notes" are around is because the internet rewards redundancy. Or, Google, more specifically. When people search for SUV's, they might search for "SUV" or just "Vehicle." So having both probably helps. I think part of the reason why “SUV Vehicle” and “PC Computer Notes” are around is because the internet rewards redundancy.

Or, Google, more specifically.

When people search for SUV’s, they might search for “SUV” or just “Vehicle.”

So having both probably helps.

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