Jerry,
Steve and I have been sparring partners on the topic of metrication for many years. However in this instance I think that he will not mind me replying. In English as used in the United Kingdom, we write "metre", "litre" (also "tyre"). In the United States, you guys tend to write "meter", "liter", "tire". This can cause a few problems - I remember an incident at school when one of my 17 year-old classmates (male) asked another (a US female exchange student) if he "could borrow a rubber". She glared back at him before remembering that in UK English a "rubber" is another name for an "eraser". _____ From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jeremiah MacGregor Sent: 25 January 2009 17:09 To: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:42525] Re: Going metric would be nice global gesture | ajc.com Stephen, I know that there are different spellings of meter that depend on language, such as metro in Spanish. But which is the right spelling for English. I always thought it was meter. Why do you use metre? It looks like it should be pronounced as met-ra or met-tray. I thought the meter has been the same since its inception and has never changed. When has it changed and then by how much? I know our English units have changed many times in history and that many places had their own forms. But I thought the metric system was free of this problem. Now, isn't the word meter (or metre) derived from the Greek word metron, meaning a measure? So, why do you say this word is French? I wasn't aware that Napoleon had anything to do with the names of the units. I thought some scientists came up with the names. I am neither pro or anti metric either. I use what I'm confronted with. I don't need to convert metric to English if it is used, nor do I need to convert English to metric if it is used. I'm sure it would be better if only one is used, but for now we have both. I'm afraid I'm not up on American politics as much as I should be, so I know even less about the EU or Europe. I'm sure the EU serves some valuable function or it would not have lasted so long and nations would be leaving instead of joining. Jerry _____ From: Stephen Humphreys <[email protected]> To: U.S. Metric Association <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2009 11:38:45 AM Subject: [USMA:42514] Re: Going metric would be nice global gesture | ajc.com I tend to agree that the French invented the metric system in that the unit of length/base unit that started it all/most important unit is the metre/meter - and if you look at the history of the metre (including it's changes over the years, more recently to use more accurate means of measuring) then it's difficult to discount France as being that key player initially. And, of course, the Napoleon angle, so to speak. The 'namin g standard' I refer to is the use of the base unit 'metre/meter'. I actually find it a bit xenophobic to try and discount France as being the forefathers of metric. It's almost as if it's - 'please! don't let the french take credit! lets make it British or something!' As for the develpoment of the metric system - I would definetly class that as 'international'. BTW - just to be fair on a new contributor - I'm not pro-metric. I'm not anti-metric either. I quite like the British position of taking advantage of both systems. It's nice to use and choose inches and millimetres and not see the world collapse into some form of measurement abyss!! I thought I'd be fair and tell you my position there, just incase (I've had private emails from other members saying they actually like to hear 'the other view' so to speak - although I agree with a lot of what's said here and on occasions sit back in disbelief at what is said ). I'm also anti-EU and pro-European - which is where I get my discomfort from regarding the 'at all costs don't make it French' argument. _____ Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 07:53:18 -0800 From: [email protected] Subject: [USMA:42498] Re: Going metric would be nice global gesture | ajc.com <http://ajc.com/> To: [email protected] Stephen, So you agree that the French invented the metric system as is the common knowledge? I'm not sure what you mean by French naming standards as the source. If you mean the unit names, I would say that the original units are either of Greek or Latin origin. Others that came later were named for scientists from various European countries. Of course Ampere is French. Jerry _____ From: Stephen Humphreys <[email protected]> To: U.S. Metric Association <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2009 10:31:58 AM Subject: [USMA:42496] Re: Going metric would be nice global gesture | ajc.com I'd say that the metric system is an international invention started off by the French (hence the french naming standards as the 'source'). _____ CC: [email protected] From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: [USMA:42459] Re: Going metric would be nice global gesture | ajc.com <http://ajc.com/> Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 06:12:40 +1100 On 2009/01/25, at 1:21 AM, Jeremiah MacGregor wrote: Pat, Are you telling us the French did not invent the metric system? Yes. Why have we not heard this before? Maybe you led a sheltered life. Jerry _____ From: Pat Naughtin <[email protected]> To: U.S. Metric Association <[email protected]> Cc: USMA Metric Association <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, January 17, 2009 1:02:53 PM Subject: [USMA:42351] Re: Going metric would be nice global gesture | ajc.com Dear Norman, I have just sent this to the writer of the article you refer to below. Dear Steve Elliot-Gower, You might be interested in a revised and updated history of the metric system that you will find at http://www.metricationmatters.com/who-invented-the-metric-system.html Cheers, Pat Naughtin Geelong, Australia [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> On 2009/01/07, at 1:03 PM, Norman & Nancy Werling wrote: Greg and members of USMA list, Here is the lead op-ed piece in Monday's (2008-01-05) AJC written by a professor at Georgia State University in Atlanta. Notice how in his later paragraphs he mentions that idea often referred to as "American exceptionalism" and how it may need to be eschewed. http://www.ajc.com/search/content/opinion/stories/2009/01/05/gowered.html Norm Werling Cheers, Pat Naughtin PO Box 305 Belmont 3216, Geelong, Australia Phone: 61 3 5241 2008 Metric system consultant, writer, and speaker, Pat Naughtin, has helped thousands of people and hundreds of companies upgrade to the modern metric system smoothly, quickly, and so economically that they now save thousands each year when buying, processing, or selling for their businesses. Pat provides services and resources for many different trades, crafts, and professions for commercial, industrial and government metrication leaders in Asia, Europe, and in the USA. Pat's clients include the Australian Government, Google, NASA, NIST, and the metric associations of Canada, the UK, and the USA. See http://www.metricationmatters.com <http://www.metricationmatters.com/> for more metrication information, contact Pat at [email protected] or to get the free 'Metrication matters' newsletter go to: http://www.metricationmatters.com/newsletter to subscribe. Cheers, Pat Naughtin PO Box 305 Belmont 3216, Geelong, Australia Phone: 61 3 5241 2008 Metric system consultant, writer, and speaker, Pat Naughtin, has helped thousands of people and hundreds of companies upgrade to the modern metric system smoothly, quickly, and so economically that they now save thousands each year when buying, processing, or selling for their businesses. Pat provides services and resources for many different trades, crafts, and professions for commercial, industrial and government metrication leaders in Asia, Europe, and in the USA. Pat's clients include the Australian Government, Google, NASA, NIST, and the metric associations of Canada, the UK, and the USA. See http://www.metricationmatters.com <http://www.metricationmatters.com/> for more metrication information, contact Pat at [email protected] or to get the free 'Metrication matters' newsletter go to: http://www.metricationmatters.com/newsletter to subscribe. _____ Windows Live Hotmail just got better. Find out more! <http://www.microsoft.com/uk/windows/windowslive/products/hotmail.aspx> _____ Share your photos with Windows Live Photos - Free Find <http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/132630768/direct/01/> out more!
