<<The common mispronunciation of key-low-me-ter as kill-om-et-er is directly
a result of the mis-spelling of the word>>
In the UK the word kilometre is pronounced "wrongly" most of the time (when
its used).
I've actually pointed out before that if km is pronounced "kill - omm -
itta" then to be consistant you'd have to pronounce kg as "kill - ogg -
gram". Then the reasons for prounouncing km correctly are easier to
comprehend.
So, no, it's got nothing to do with the spelling , esp when you reallise
that metre and meter have identical pronunciation.
From: "Daniel" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]>
Subject: [USMA:34523] Re: spelling Date: Sat, 17 Sep 2005 22:12:25 -0400
I would agree with most spelling reforms or maintaining some spelling
differences between British English and American English, but metre and
litre should not be part of the reform. There is a sound logical reason to
retain the -re spelling for these two words.
They allow to the wrods to be distinguished as units of measure as opposed
to other meanings the words with the -er ending have,
A meter is a device used to measure. A metre is a unit of measure. In
compound words the pronunciation of the complete word differs depending on
whether the word ends in metre or meter.
We say ther-mom-et-er when we spell it with the -er ending. We say
key-low-me-ter when we spell it with the -re ending. The common
mispronunciation of key-low-me-ter as kill-om-et-er is directly a result of
the mis-spelling of the word.
A perfect example is the difference between a device called a micrometer
(my-crom-et-er) for measuring small distance and a sub-unit of the metre
called micrometre (my-crow-me-ter).
How much more simple can it be, or is logic and sense anathema to the
American experience?
The other example is the word tonne. It is much better word the the ugly
expression of 1000 kg as a metric ton. Keep ton to mean 907 kg and use the
tonne to mean 1000 kg. Or are the extra two letters too complex for most
people in the US only to comprehend?
I agree largely with Jim Elwell's response to you, by the way.
As a footnote, I was born and educated in England.
Bill Potts, CMS
Roseville, CA
http://metric1.org [SI Navigator]
