The word liseuse being used outside of MobileRead? - Page 6

omk3 · 06-18-2010, 07:51 AM

You know, I never particularly liked the sound of "liseuse". But hey, the poor word is so strongly hated by some people, I feel obliged to defend it.

I'll probably start using it now, as a gesture of solidarity. All this word-bullying is getting too much. Live and let (other words) live.

New devices and technologies lack proper names. The mp3 player is a good example. iPod is a brand. Like Hoover, it can be used as a descriptive word, but I'd really hate to advertise this bloody apple even more, it doesn't need it. Mp3 player is long, two words, and not entirely accurate either. Which is exactly the case with the term "ebook reader". Yeah, good enough description, but not actually a name. Many people use their reader's brand. My sony, my kindle, my ipad. I absolutely and passionately favour an arbitrary, weird-sounding but neutral and all-encompassing word like 'liseuse' over any more indirect brand advertising.

So from today, liseuse it is!

Moejoe · 06-18-2010, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by omk3

You know, I never particularly liked the sound of "liseuse". But hey, the poor word is so strongly hated by some people, I feel obliged to defend it.

I'll probably start using it now, as a gesture of solidarity. All this word-bullying is getting too much. Live and let (other words) live.

New devices and technologies lack proper names. The mp3 player is a good example. iPod is a brand. Like Hoover, it can be used as a descriptive word, but I'd really hate to advertise this bloody apple even more, it doesn't need it. Mp3 player is long, two words, and not entirely accurate either. Which is exactly the case with the term "ebook reader". Yeah, good enough description, but not actually a name. Many people use their reader's brand. My sony, my kindle, my ipad. I absolutely and passionately favour an arbitrary, weird-sounding but neutral and all-encompassing word like 'liseuse' over any more indirect brand advertising.

So from today, liseuse it is!

We shall never surrender!! Liberte, Egalite, Liseuset...Liseusor...Liseuserte....damn I wish I could speak French!

poohbear_nc · 06-18-2010, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I loath this word personally. Unless you're French, I can see no conceivable reason for wanting to use it. Let's hope that it dies the death that it so richly deserves.

Hear! Hear! I second this emotion and death wish!!

Moejoe · 06-18-2010, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

Hear! Hear! I second this emotion and death wish!!

As long as one of us Liseusers have fingers to type with, the Liseuse shall live on!!!

poohbear_nc · 06-18-2010, 08:28 AM

Has anyone noticed that if you type liseuse into Google translate you get "book light"? Not an ebook reader?

Moejoe · 06-18-2010, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

Has anyone noticed that if you type liseuse into Google translate you get "book light"? Not an ebook reader?

And if you type in boobies....well, you don't get anything with feathers

(I have scientifically and rigorously checked this so that others do not have to)

omk3 · 06-18-2010, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moejoe

We shall never surrender!! Liberte, Egalite, Liseuset...Liseusor...Liseuserte....damn I wish I could speak French!

Liseuseté maybe? I'm sure there's no such french word (yet) anyway, so let's invent one!

We shall overcome!

Quote:

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

Hear! Hear! I second this emotion and death wish!!

How can you wish a word's death, you word-murderers?
And you were all supposed to love words, being book readers and all!

Quote:

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

Has anyone noticed that if you type liseuse into Google translate you get "book light"? Not an ebook reader?

Yes it's been mentioned. What hasn't been mentioned is when did Google become the unchallenged authority on word definitions and usage? Have you looked at a google translation lately?

poohbear_nc · 06-18-2010, 08:32 AM

Hmmm.... according the the experts in Google translate:

"li" => if
"lis" => fox
"lise" => high school
"euse" => smoker

So "liseuse" translates literally to "if a fox is a smoker in high school"?

GeoffC · 06-18-2010, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

Has anyone noticed that if you type liseuse into Google translate you get "book light"? Not an ebook reader?

Weeeellllll! ...

Knowing how fickle translation could be, "book light" may mean

,

or it could be light book - - - which is what a reader is .... ...... light ...................... !

omk3 · 06-18-2010, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

Hmmm.... according the the experts in Google translate:

"li" => if
"lis" => fox
"lise" => high school
"euse" => smoker

So "liseuse" translates literally to "if a fox is a smoker in high school"?

And what is it you don't like in this translation?

I love it!

poohbear_nc · 06-18-2010, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by omk3

Yes it's been mentioned. What hasn't been mentioned is when did Google become the unchallenged authority on word definitions and usage? Have you looked at a google translation lately?

Well yes - see above.
It's given me some of my finest conversations with beppe!

ardeegee · 06-18-2010, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by omk3

Which is exactly the case with the term "ebook reader". Yeah, good enough description, but not actually a name.

Good point, the term "ebook reader" isn't a name. It will fail to ever reach general usage, just like the technical terms "CD player", "cassette player", "tape player", "record player", "8-track player", and similar excessively techy terms for household devices failed to catch on.

Oh, wait-- they didn't fail to catch on.

WT Sharpe · 06-18-2010, 08:43 AM

Let's call 'em all ewidgets and be done with it!

poohbear_nc · 06-18-2010, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

Let's call 'em all ewidgets and be done with it!

Eworks for me! Or would the ewoks object?

omk3 · 06-18-2010, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardeegee

Good point, the term "ebook reader" isn't a name. It will fail to ever reach general usage, just like the technical terms "CD player", "cassette player", "tape player", "record player", "8-track player", and similar excessively techy terms for household devices failed to catch on.

Oh, wait-- they didn't fail to catch on.

It's so much fun being sarcastic, isn't it?
Those are not names either, they are just descriptions. And no they are not excessively techy, they are excessively pedestrian, so that no one gets confused by the excessively techy objects they are describing. I've nothing much against them, other than I really would prefer one word for one device, not a complete description for every time I want to refer to it. This is even more obvious in languages like Greek, where all words have inflections, and they tend to be generally longer too. Using more than one word all the time tends to be quite a mouthful.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
liseuse or not liseuse : l'angoisse du grand lecteur...	glin	Lounge français	39	10-21-2011 03:19 PM
let's get liseuse recognized as a real word	Nate the great	Lounge	247	09-18-2009 01:57 AM
Romance Ebers, Georg: A Word, Only a Word. V1. 20 Mar 2009	crutledge	IMP Books	0	03-20-2009 08:12 AM
Romance Ebers, Georg: A Word, Only a Word. V1. 20 Mar 2009	crutledge	ePub Books	0	03-20-2009 08:09 AM

06-18-2010, 07:51 AM	#76
omk3 Wizard Posts: 1,454 Karma: 37243 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Europe Device: pocketbook 360, kindle 4	You know, I never particularly liked the sound of "liseuse". But hey, the poor word is so strongly hated by some people, I feel obliged to defend it. I'll probably start using it now, as a gesture of solidarity. All this word-bullying is getting too much. Live and let (other words) live. New devices and technologies lack proper names. The mp3 player is a good example. iPod is a brand. Like Hoover, it can be used as a descriptive word, but I'd really hate to advertise this bloody apple even more, it doesn't need it. Mp3 player is long, two words, and not entirely accurate either. Which is exactly the case with the term "ebook reader". Yeah, good enough description, but not actually a name. Many people use their reader's brand. My sony, my kindle, my ipad. I absolutely and passionately favour an arbitrary, weird-sounding but neutral and all-encompassing word like 'liseuse' over any more indirect brand advertising. So from today, liseuse it is!

06-18-2010, 08:28 AM	#80
poohbear_nc Bah! Humbug! Posts: 63,539 Karma: 135239851 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durham, NC Device: Every Kindle Ever Made & To Be Made!	Has anyone noticed that if you type liseuse into Google translate you get "book light"? Not an ebook reader?

06-18-2010, 08:32 AM	#83
poohbear_nc Bah! Humbug! Posts: 63,539 Karma: 135239851 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durham, NC Device: Every Kindle Ever Made & To Be Made!	Hmmm.... according the the experts in Google translate: "li" => if "lis" => fox "lise" => high school "euse" => smoker So "liseuse" translates literally to "if a fox is a smoker in high school"?

06-18-2010, 08:43 AM	#88
WT Sharpe Bah, humbug! Posts: 39,072 Karma: 157049943 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Chesapeake, VA, USA Device: Kindle Oasis, iPad Pro, & a Samsung Galaxy S9.	Let's call 'em all ewidgets and be done with it!