Re: [Marketing GNUstep] booklet

[MJ Ray]

On 2004-02-11 12:42:50 +0000 M. Grabert <xam@cs.ucc.ie> wrote:

> Google "object-orientated":  Results 1 - 100 of about    36,600
> Google "object-oriented"  :  Results 1 - 100 of about 4,000,000

You could search for "GNUstep" and "MacOS X" if you like, but I still 
won't accept popularity as a measure of correctness.

> Even Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary, dictionary.com, Webster 
> and
> other (online-)dictionaries don't have the term "object-orientated" in
> their database, only the term "object-oriented".

Actually, many general dictionaries have neither. Online dictionaries 
are more likely to include computing jargon and the ones you mention 
above are a mix of archaic and USian.

> The term "object-oriented" was 'invented' by Alan Kay (US citizen);

The inventor's language is not very significant. We don't write 
"al-jabr" either.

> Well, I really don't care about whether to spell things in "American 
> English"
> or "English English", but I personally prefer to stick to the 
> spelling of
> commonly used expressions like "object-oriented". Especially when it 
> comes
> to expressions related to computer science.

From Collins English Dictionary's usage note: "Nevertheless, there can 
be little doubt that either form is acceptable. Excessive use of 
orientate and orientation [...] is frowned on in careful usage as 
jargon." The only intransitive verb form of "orientate" is the same as 
"orient" but there is less possibility for the idea of facing 
something eastwards.

Basically, I don't care that much on this one term, as long as it's 
not over-used, but "oriented" really jars my ear.

> So my advice/comment:
> go ahead and change all "ise" to "ize", and "l" to "ll", but please

Rather, change "ize" to "ise". Please read the leaflet before jerking 
knees.

> don't overdo it by changing certain 'invented' and commonly used 
> expressions
> into "English English" spelling.

We can't avoid it: a lot of English is imported and it should be no 
different when importing from US English than French, Greek or Arabic. 
The alternative is just to accept US cultural imperialism rather than 
continuing our language, but now I'm getting wildly OT, so I ask for 
replies to that bit off-list.

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