When does an Acronym become a Word?
pe...@stc.co.uk
In the aftermath of the Challenger accident, I noticed that
many reports spelt National Aeronautics and Space Administration as
Nasa, rather than NASA.
This started me thinking about how long a probation an
acronym has to serve before it becomes a word. For example, radar has
been a word for at least 30 years, laser for 20 or so. NASA/Nasa
seems to be on the point of graduating.
Some acronyms, like RAF or USAF, seem never to become words.
Which are next? ROM and RAM would appear to be prime
candidates for promotion. Are some types of acronym more likely than
others? I think it likely that the easily pronounced ones change
status first.
--
Peter Kendell <pe...@stc.UUCP>
...!mcvax!ukc!stc!pete
"Honesty's all out of fashion,
These are the rigs of the times"
fra...@mmintl.uucp
In article <8...@bute.tcom.stc.co.uk> pe...@stc.co.uk writes:
> In the aftermath of the Challenger accident, I noticed that
>many reports spelt National Aeronautics and Space Administration as
>Nasa, rather than NASA.
>
> This started me thinking about how long a probation an
>acronym has to serve before it becomes a word. For example, radar has
>been a word for at least 30 years, laser for 20 or so. NASA/Nasa
>seems to be on the point of graduating.
>
> Some acronyms, like RAF or USAF, seem never to become words.
>
> Which are next? ROM and RAM would appear to be prime
>candidates for promotion. Are some types of acronym more likely than
>others? I think it likely that the easily pronounced ones change
>status first.
I think this last is an understatement. The key seems to be whether
the acronym gets pronounced as a word, or if the individual letters in
it are pronounced. I have never heard RAF or USAF pronounced as "raff"
or "yousaff". It may be that these pronunciations are used in some
contexts, but they are certainly not universal.
I will note that the Economist tends to print all acronyms with only the
first letter capitalized. I'm not sure if this is common in England, or
a peculiarity of that publication.
Frank Adams ihnp4!philabs!pwa-b!mmintl!franka
Multimate International 52 Oakland Ave North E. Hartford, CT 06108
S.Rajeev
> > ...
>
>I will note that the Economist tends to print all acronyms with only the
(or words to that effect).
Excuse me, are we talking about the same "Economist"? I have my latest
issue with me, and they sure have capitalized all of NASA, GATT, OPEC and
every other acronym I could find...
Anthony Albert
on the radio (ira and I-R-A).
Anthony Albert
..!ucbvax!kim!albert
alb...@kim.berkeley.edu