On Sun, 17 Mar 2002 14:52:02 Stephen C. Gallagher wrote: ... >> Metric users do not have the habit of creating shortcuts for measurement >values. We simply use it as is, i.e. cm is centimeter, mm is millimeter, >etc. It seems to me that this is more of a cultural phenomenon in the US >that sees the need to inundate us with thousands and thousands of acronyms >for everything... ;-) >> >> Marcus >>... >You mean like "click" or "klick" instead of kilometre. > Not only that, Stephen, but also the likes of UFO, ADSL, PTD, AIDS, RFQ, mils, etc, etc. True some of these got translated into our local languages and we thus end up using them, but, it's the main principle involved in "laziness" when it comes to pronouncing terms that are habitually used. I agree that sometimes this IS useful, don't take me wrong, but only that I find this practice to go too far at times. This should certainly NOT be condoned when it comes to measurement units. However, if it takes putting up with our fellow Americans insisting on creating things like clicks, kiLOHmeter, kay-pee-eitch, etc. Oh, well... So be it... :-S
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