History questions not worth their own thread V

[Arakhor]

Davy gave aluminium a variety of names, it seems, but setled on aluminium, to be more like helium, potassium and so on.

 

[CaptainLost]

Well, no, but one looks horrific to my eye.

Actually, I have to agree with you on that. I like the British spellings, with American pronunciations. Don't know why.

 

[Louis XXIV]

It's platinum, molybdenum, tantalum and lanthanum, and Davy named it aluminum, so take that, IUPAC.

Yeah, pretty much. Some elements end in "um" some end in "ium." There's nothing wrong with it being Aluminum, which was the original spelling.

 

[Arakhor]

Well, Humphry Davy's first name for it was alumium, so let's not get carried away with pretensions of originality.

 

[ParkCungHee]

Well, if you want to worry about getting carried away, shouldn't the British spelling be Αργίλιο?

More classical sounding, that way.

 

[TheLastOne36]

Does anywhere besides Britain also say "geezer" instead of "geyser"? or is that just a British thing? I've always found that funny.

Wait? Other people say Geyser?

I guess you can count Canada along with the British then. Only ever heard 'Gee-zer'.

 

[Lord Baal]

Wait? Other people say Geyser?

I guess you can count Canada along with the British then. Only ever heard 'Gee-zer'.

Australians say "geyser."

 

[History_Buff]

Wait? Other people say Geyser?

I guess you can count Canada along with the British then. Only ever heard 'Gee-zer'.

Only in the wacky eastern parts of Canada. We may not have much going for us, but at least we Westerners have the good accent that everyone on TV has.

 

[bhsup]

Wait... They're two different words and are pronounced differently! A geezer is an old dude, a geyser is a periodically erupting water, er, thingy like Old Faithful at Yellowstone.

Geezer

Geyser

 

[Arakhor]

Well, if you want to worry about getting carried away, shouldn't the British spelling be Αργίλιο?

Somehow, I dont think many chemists in IUPAC speak or read Greek.

Wait... They're two different words and are pronounced differently! A geezer is an old dude, a geyser is a periodically erupting water, er, thingy like Old Faithful at Yellowstone.

V, those two words are virtual homophones, as far as I'm concerned.

 

[bhsup]

No, not really. They sound nothing alike. Geezer has a long e sound (jeep, teeth, etc), whereas the gey in geyser actually sounds like guy.

 

[Lord Baal]

No, not really. They sound nothing alike. Geezer has a long e sound (jeep, teeth, etc), whereas the gey in geyser actually sounds like guy.

I'm with you, VR. I actually heard a Brit call a geyser a "gay-zer" once.

 

[CaptainLost]

I'm with you, VR. I actually heard a Brit call a geyser a "gay-zer" once.

Gayzer? That's a new one.

 

[sophie]

No, not really. They sound nothing alike. Geezer has a long e sound (jeep, teeth, etc), whereas the gey in geyser actually sounds like guy.

[gi.zɹ] for old men

[gai.zɹ] for old faithful

Totally different.

 

[Louis XXIV]

Perhaps it's worth acknowledging that there are no right or wrong answers when it comes to accents?

 

[CaptainLost]

Perhaps it's worth acknowledging that there are no right or wrong answers when it comes to accents?

True...accents are really just different dialects

 

[Dachs]

Perhaps it's worth acknowledging that there are no right or wrong answers when it comes to accents?

Henceforth I plan to pronounce "Louis" as "Toilet".

 

[Lord Baal]

Henceforth I plan to pronounce "Louis" as "Toilet".

You mean that's not how it's already pronounced? No wonder those French tourists gave me such weird looks.

 

[bhsup]

[gi.zɹ] for old men

[gai.zɹ] for old faithful

Totally different.

Are you agreeing with me/confirming what I said, or are you disagreeing with how I say they are pronounced? I don't comprehend ivory tower English pronunciation guides.

 

[Wrymouth3]

Henceforth I plan to pronounce "Louis" as "Toilet".

The fat one was on the toilet a lot presumably, gonna have to see what Abbot Suger thinks.