Bill Hoooper wrote in USMA 19009: >> (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?
In France speed is commonly expressed in "kilom�tre � l'heure". In Italian kilometre is written "chil�metro" and hectogram is colloqually "etto". The symbols are internationally standardized, but not the full names of units.. Joseph B.Reid 17 Glebe Road West Toronto M5P 1C8 TEL. 416-486-6071
