eReader VS. eBook Reader

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by Moejoe

*cranks up drama-meter to 11*

Liseuse or death!!

I've no idea how to pronounce that liseuse. So, I'll just use ereader or ebook reader.

[K-Thom]

Why not just call it "book"?

Those cellulose-infested dinosaurs don't have a trademark on that term, you know?

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by K-Thom

Why not just call it "book"?

Those cellulose-infested dinosaurs don't have a trademark on that term, you know?

Oh, in normal discussions, I'll only speak of books. I don't make any difference between pbooks or ebooks. But, we're not talking about the book, we're talking about a device with which you can read books. Such a device is more than a book. It's an entire library (potentionally) at the least.

[doreenjoy]

In general conversation, I have to call it an "E-book reader" or no one know what I'm talking about. "E-reader" isn't enough information for those who've never heard of one.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by doreenjoy

In general conversation, I have to call it an "E-book reader" or no one know what I'm talking about. "E-reader" isn't enough information for those who've never heard of one.

That's why I generally don't even mention it And when I do, I just say: I read my books electronically.

[Ea]

Originally Posted by doreenjoy

In general conversation, I have to call it an "E-book reader" or no one know what I'm talking about. "E-reader" isn't enough information for those who've never heard of one.

Yes, and then you usually have to explain what an ebook is as well

[pdurrant]

It's not that I can't pronounce it, it's just that that sound doesn't happen in English. Well, except in other borrowed words, e.g. masseuse. So it doesn't sound right in English.

Originally Posted by ahi

Or like a German 'ö'... or like a short Hungarian 'Ő'... or like a Mongolian 'ө'...

Easy as pie, is what I'm trying to say!

- Ahi

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by Ea

Don't you have a 'body' or 'authority' in USA to evaluate new words or changes to exiting, i.e. someone who decides the 'official' spellings and language conventions? I mean, there must be some base line, and someone must draw it, and it would make sense if it was a state authority.

There are no official spellings or language conventions in English. It's all based on common usage. Some people try to apply rules to English, but they have no authority to do so, and any rules should only be taken as guidelines. For example, the rule "Don't split infinitives" is useful, but not always right.

E.g. "To boldly go ..." is the only reasonable way to say this. Moving the 'boldly' to not split the infinitive 'to go" just doesn't work, requiring an awkward pause in the phrase -- "To go, boldly, ..."

The idea that a language needs an official watchdog seems common, but it is an odd notion to native English speakers.

Of course, that doesn't stop us (the British) complaining about their (the Americans') mangling of the language. Even when they're historically correct, e.g "burglarize". The back derivation of "burgle" from burglar is much nicer.

But no, there's no-one we can appeal to to assert that the Americans have got it wrong again.

There is a good source on the internet if you're confused about which of two terms is best to use - Dialecticon.

http://www.chaucery.com/fun/dialecti...e2=burglarized

Where you'll see that burgled is the word to use in the UK and Australia, and while it's not uncommon in the US and Canada, there burglarized is in the majority.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by Ea

I really, really hope not, but I am afraid it might well happen - It happened to the walkman, xerox, aspirin, hoover.... It has almost happened with the iPod.

I doubt it. The Kindle is only well-known (at least I presume it's well-known) in the US. Most people here only know of the Kindle if they are gadget happy. This might have happened if Amazon had brought the Kindle to the rest of the world too, soon after its US introduction.

[kazbates]

Originally Posted by doreenjoy

I think it's up to the Chicago Manual of Style and the Associated Press to determine correctness.

I lived just outside of Chicago for a great part of my life and never knew they had a style, much less a manual for it. Now, when people remark about my Chicagoan accent, I can tell them, "Yes, I know it's different but, at least I'm stylish."

Out of curiosity: I've been pronouncing "liseuse" as ~lisoos~. Is that not correct?

[Moejoe]

Originally Posted by kazbates

I lived just outside of Chicago for a great part of my life and never knew they had a style, much less a manual for it. Now, when people remark about my Chicagoan accent, I can tell them, "Yes, I know it's different but, at least I'm stylish."

Out of curiosity: I've been pronouncing "liseuse" as ~lisoos~. Is that not correct?

Da Bearsh!! (Sorry, couldn't resist. )

[kazbates]

Originally Posted by Moejoe

Da Bearsh!! (Sorry, couldn't resist. )

Et tu, Brutus!!

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

It's not that I can't pronounce it, it's just that that sound doesn't happen in English. Well, except in other borrowed words, e.g. masseuse. So it doesn't sound right in English.

actually, i think the sound does occur in english ; i believe it is more or less the vowel sound in the words "her" "fur" ("occur"...) etc., if you can say that but replace the final "r" with a "z" sound then it's quite the same.

Originally Posted by kazbates

Out of curiosity: I've been pronouncing "liseuse" as ~lisoos~. Is that not correct?

pretty close, yes. you can hear it pronounced in this page : http://www.mediadico.com/dictionnair.../LISEUSE/parle
click on "écoutez la définition" if you want to replay it.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

pretty close, yes. you can hear it pronounced in this page : http://www.mediadico.com/dictionnair.../LISEUSE/parle
click on "écoutez la définition" if you want to replay it.

See, I got the eu right (it's a sound that's exactly the same), but I'll pronounce the "se" too. Which the French (I think they're just lazy, they won't pronounce a lot of letters in a word!) don't.

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

See, I got the eu right (it's a sound that's exactly the same), but I'll pronounce the "se" too. Which the French (I think they're just lazy, they won't pronounce a lot of letters in a word!) don't.

yep, i thought you would. it's just like the ö in german, etc.

if you're from the south of france, you would pronounce the "se" at the end. (well, even in paris, but somewhat less.) they like to add extra vowels even when there are none, like "pneu" they pronounce "peuhneu" !