The metric system is unified and the spelling of the units within the same
language must be consistent.
I know of no basis for that assertion, Harold. Only the symbols are
specified by the CGPM for international uniformity. The spellings of the
unit and prefix names are left up to each member state within the CGPM
-- and, for that matter, for states outside the CGPM. Indeed, those
names can be totally different words.
Spelling differences between American English and British English are of
vanishingly minute importance. After all, in critical applications, we
should both use the symbols, rather than the spelled out names.
The -er versus -re debate has gone on in the USA for over fifty years.
Frankly, I'm tired of it. Let's concentrate on finishing the metrication
of both our member states! Please.
Jim
--
James R. Frysinger
632 Stoney Point Mountain Road
Doyle TN 38559-3030
(C) 931.212.0267
(H) 931.657.3107
(F) 931.657.3108
On 2014-06-22 20:52, Harold_Potsdamer wrote:
Can you provide an examples or evidence where the metric units have
multiple spellings within the same language?
It is totally irrelevant how different languages spell the metric
units. The fact is they spell it one way and only one way within the
same language. The spelling metre and litre has been chosen for English
and that is what we need to stick to. Otherwise it looks like metric is
a divided and inconsistent system. The metric system is unified and the
spelling of the units within the same language must be consistent.
English may have evolved two different spellings for many words, but
that does not apply to SI units. In the same token that British
spellings are found in American usage when it is beneficial to do so,
standardised metric unit spellings need to be the exception.
*From:* [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
*Sent:* Sunday, 2014-06-22 19:02
*To:* U.S. Metric Association <mailto:[email protected]>
*Subject:* [USMA:54014] How meter is spelled in non-English languages
I did a little research on how meter is spelled in various non-English
languages. According to https://translate.google.com the primary SI unit
is spelled meter in thirteen non-English languages. Those 13 languages
are Afrikaans, Danish, Dutch, German, Hausa, Islandic, Indonesian,
Latin, Malay, Norwegian, Slovak, Slovenian and Swedish. Hungarian has an
accent mark in the first syllable méter (which is pretty close to meter,
so 14 if you count Hungarian). The primary SI unit is spelled metre in
only two non-English languages. Those two languages are Catalan and
Turkish. French has an accent mark in the first syllable: mètre (which
is pretty close to metre, so 3 if you count French). Other languages
have many different variations (for example, metro in Spanish). Some
languages use non-Latin-based scripts. (English is written in a
Latin-based script.) English, as we already know, has evolved two
different spellings for many words, not just for the word meter / metre.
----- Message from Brian White <[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>> ---------
Date: Sat, 21 Jun 2014 06:39:24 -0700
From: Brian White <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>>
Reply-To: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
Subject: [USMA:54013] Re: tries to pull a truck in heels - YouTube
To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>>
Meter and metre are fine. Both are better than feet or yards.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Harold_Potsdamer <mailto:[email protected]>
Sent: 6/21/2014 4:37
To: U.S. Metric Association <mailto:[email protected]>
Subject: [USMA:54012] Re: tries to pull a truck in heels - YouTube
A lot of people make spelling errors, it doesn’t mean it is right.
Why didn’t they just use the symbol “m”?
*From:* [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
*Sent:* Friday, 2014-06-20 23:53
*To:* U.S. Metric Association <mailto:[email protected]>
*Subject:* [USMA:54010] Re: tries to pull a truck in heels - YouTube
Harold. Clearly, the signs say 1 METER - 2 METERS - 3 METERS et
cetera, rendered with the American spelling, not the British spelling.
----- Message from Harold_Potsdamer <[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>> ---------
Date: Wed, 18 Jun 2014 20:44:48 -0400
From: Harold_Potsdamer <[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>>
Reply-To: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
Subject: [USMA:53999] tries to pull a truck in heels - YouTube
To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMSStSeQyUI&feature=player_detailpage#t=50
The distances are measured in metres.
----- End message from Harold_Potsdamer <[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>> -----
David Pearl www.MetricPioneer.com <http://www.MetricPioneer.com>
503-428-4917
----- End message from Brian White <[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>> -----
David Pearl www.MetricPioneer.com <http://www.MetricPioneer.com>
503-428-4917
