[net.nlang] "employe" flame

mat@linus.UUCP (Michael A. Turniansky) (01/25/84)

(Was this line really necessary?)

	Let's see, got my lighter fluid, got my matches....and :

<*POOF!*>

	A major weekly news magazine (who shall remain nameless)
insists on using the word "employe"!  Is this spelling legitimate?
It grates on my nerves.  I suspect that they are just trying to 
save on print.  
	What's next?  "Paye", "lesse", or even "Oh say can you se?"
I'm ted off.  Se what I mean?  Let's not let gredy capitalistic 
slicks get away with murder to the English language.  Alex Haig 
has already done enough to it.  
	Thank you for your time an this forum to vent my splen.


		"How doth the busy bumble be?"


		"Dangerous knowledge is a little thing"

		--Mike  Turniansky


		{your guess is as good as mine}linus!mat
					       mat@Mitre-Bedford

keesan@bbncca.ARPA (Morris Keesan) (01/27/84)

----------------------------

    When I was a Honeywell employee, I received "The Honeywell World", or
some such (propaganda periodical for employees).  Said periodical consistently
spelled "employee" as "employe".  My eye kept stumbling over this spelling as
I attempted to read the paper, but before writing a letter to the editor
complaining, I checked a dictionary.  Webster's Ninth New Collegiate 
Dictionary lists both spellings as equally acceptable.  I have no idea where
the short spelling derives from, or why it's acceptable, but it would seem
that using it simply indicates a belief that it is preferable.  I sincerely
doubt that saving ink is a motive.
-- 
					Morris M. Keesan
					{decvax,linus,wjh12}!bbncca!keesan
					keesan @ BBN-UNIX.ARPA

/hh1/pst2/bin/user@pyuxhh.UUCP (/hh1/pst2/bin/user) (01/30/84)

 In reference to the use of "employe",I came across this practice whilst
doing some work for General Motors in 1977/79.When I questioned the practice
I was told that it is s.o.p. for all GM divisions.It came about as an 
employee's suggestion to save money(ie less keystrokes,less wear on typewriters,
time saved,etc.).I forget the exact figure quoted as to the amount of 
savings realized but the employee recieved the maximum allowed under the
suggestion scheme awards,so I expect the savings to have been in excess
of $250,000 per annum.
   If there are any GM sites or ex-GM employe(e)s out there I welcome any
clarification as this information is over 5 years old and recollections
suitably hazy.


         			Dave Peak(pyuxhh!dxp)

walsh@ihuxi.UUCP (B. Walsh) (01/30/84)

Gosh, employe is in the dictionary; what more do you want?

B. Walsh