on 3/20/2002 6:33 PM, M R at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > (Regarding the symbols km/L and km/h) spoken as > "kay-emm-pee-ell & kay-emm-pee-h" > > I think the word for 'per' will be different in > different languages.
Yes, the word "per" may be different but the pronunciation of the letters of the alphabet will also be different in different languages. I think that, in German, pronouncing the symbol km/h would be "kah" "em" "pro" "hah". (I've use the German word for "per", rather than the Geman word for the letter "p". But if the letter "p" is used, it, too, is pronounced differently in German from what it is in English; "pay" instead of "pee".) Perhaps our German speaking friends can confirm this or correct me. I'm sure there would be variations in other languages as well. I don't like such short spoken forms, but we may not be able to prevent people from using them. If they do, I would still prefer they say "per" (in their own language) rather than the letter "p". The argument for the short form is that "kay" "em" is easier (shorter) to say than "kilometre". Since the word "per" is NOT easier to say than the letter "p", why should the "pee" be accepted? Regards, Bill Hooper retired physics professor, Florida, USA -------------------------------------- "Simplification" begins with "SI" --------------------------------------
