I am not the one that is insisting that the be called acronyms.
No one is insisting that they be called acronyms. It's just a synonym for the word 'abbreviation'. (Technically, a near-synonym, as all acronyms are abbreviations but not all abbreviations are acronyms. It's more of a sub-set. Just like the words car, truck, motorcycle, bus, etc., are a sub-set of 'motor vehicles', where all cars are motor vehicles but not all motor vehicles are cars.) I was referring to 'acronym' in my example search above because that word was in the subject of the thread. Nothing more.
It has been my experience that acronyms are pronouncable as in SCOTUS for Supreme Court of the United States.
Yes, that is the correct definition of 'acronym': an
initialization (which is an abbreviation made up of the first letters of each word in a series of words) where the resulting string can be pronounced like a word. If it can't be spoken as a new 'word', then it it simply an initialization, although that term is rarely used in everyday English, as most people refer to initializations as 'acronyms'. While incorrect, 'acronym' is commonly used for both.
Another type of spoken abbreviation is called a portmanteau, which is the combination of two or more words to make a new word (i.e., spoon + fork = spork).
Then there are truncations, where the word is shortened (i.e. abbreviation = abbr.).
I prefer the word "abbeviations". And, I believe, that is the term that the board uses.
I wasn't debating what to
call it. I just wanted to know if the silly thing can be updated!
And, Ostracon, if you wish to contact me by PM, the function is available to you to get what ever it is that you want off your chest.
I don't have anything to get 'off my chest'. I was merely going to ask if there was some perceived slight that I may have put upon you.
I know that written communication doesn't have the added benefit of tone, inflection, facial expression and body language that direct communication has. Sometimes people can sound curt when they don't intend to be.
I tend to give people the benefit of the doubt until they prove that my generosity is misplaced. I have no animosity toward you. The reverse, I'm not so sure. I didn't come here to make any enemies. I came here to be a positive contributing member to the board.
And Chester is right. If you use most of those abbreviations in court, you would likely be sitting outside on the steps outside rewriting your submission.
I agree. But the topic was the definition of abbreviations (whether they be acronyms, initializations, truncations or portmanteau) which are used within the context of DB.
Since I have been unable to get an answer to my initial question of whether (or not) the list of abbreviations could be updated, (and if so, by whom), I shall retire.
I have already started a doc for my own use (from the suggestion of Irish, thank you again). As it accumulates, I would be more than willing to share it with anyone who is interested. If the board wishes to incorporate it, I'd be more than happy to oblige.
~O
