paul@polyof.UUCP (A1 Mr. Curran) (09/08/88)
How does one pronounce the term "TeX." There seem to be two factions, one that says it's like TEK and another that says it's TEX as in TEXas or TEXt. If it's TEK howcome it's pronounced that way; I can't think of any english words that sound X that way. Also it would seem more reasonable to say LATEX than LATEK. Just curious. -Pablos
pwp@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu (09/08/88)
The reason for the Tek pronounciation is discussed in the TeX book I believe. It is from the Greek letter chi. Reading between the lines it might possible have something to do with trade marks also. There are also some connections with technology and text.
cje@elbereth.rutgers.edu (Cthulhu's Jersey Epopt) (09/08/88)
In article <374@polyof.UUCP> paul@polyof.UUCP (A1 Mr. Curran) writes: > How does one pronounce the term "TeX." There seem to be two > factions, one that says it's like TEK and another that says it's TEX > as in TEXas or TEXt. If it's TEK howcome it's pronounced that way; I > can't think of any english words that sound X that way. Also it would > seem more reasonable to say LATEX than LATEK. Just curious. The reason why "TeX" is pronounced "tek/tech/tecchh" is described on page 1 of Knuth's THE TEXBOOK. Around here, the factions are "lay-tech" vs. "lah-tech". Lamport said he wanted usage to determine the pronunciation, so he's no help. I say "lay-tech" because 1) the t-e-x root comes from "TeX" so I figure it should be pronounced that way, and 2) the full word looks like the word "latex" ("lay-tex"), so I figure the first syllable should similarly have the long "a". Question for the factions out there in French-speaking countries: how is it pronounced in French? "la lah-tech"? "le lah-tech"? "la lay-tech"? "le lay-tech"? -- Yog-Sothoth Neblod Zin, Chris Jarocha-Ernst UUCP: {ames, cbosgd, harvard, moss, seismo}!rutgers!elbereth.rutgers.edu!cje ARPA: JAROCHAERNST@CANCER.RUTGERS.EDU
drstrip@intvax.UUCP (David R. Strip) (09/08/88)
From the TeX book
" Insiders pronounce the \chi of TeX as a Greek chi, not as an "x", so that TeX
rhymes with the word blecchhh; it's the `ch' sound in Scottish words like
{\em loch} or German words like [\em ach}; it's a Spanish `j' and a Russian
`kh'. When you say it correctly to your computer, the terminal may become
slightly moist."
Now, for bonus credit: the word `blecchhh' looks suspiciously like something
from mad magazine. What is the connection between Mad and DEK?
David Strip. (drstrip@sandia-2.arpa)
{ucbvax, rice, lanl, gatech}!unmvax!intvax!drstriproy@phri.UUCP (Roy Smith) (09/08/88)
In article <374@polyof.UUCP> paul@polyof.UUCP (A1 Mr. Curran) writes: > How does one pronounce the term "TeX." The official line is something along these lines. The spelling of TeX is not actually Tee-Eee-Eks, but the Greek Tau-Epsilon-Chi and is pronounced Tech which sort of rhymes with bleech. Personally I think that's absurd and just pronounce it either tek (rhymes with heck) or teks (rhymes with sex). -- Roy Smith, System Administrator Public Health Research Institute {allegra,philabs,cmcl2,rutgers}!phri!roy -or- phri!roy@uunet.uu.net "The connector is the network"
bamford@ihlpf.ATT.COM (Harold E. Bamford) (09/08/88)
In article <374@polyof.UUCP> paul@polyof.UUCP (A1 Mr. Curran) writes: > > How does one pronounce the term "TeX." There seem to be two >factions, one that says it's like TEK and another that says it's TEX >as in TEXas or TEXt. If it's TEK howcome it's pronounced that way; I >can't think of any english words that sound X that way. Also it would >seem more reasonable to say LATEX than LATEK. Just curious. According to Knuth's book on TeX, the word is pronounced with a "K" sound on the end except that it is accompanied with a lot of exhalation. In fact, he says that saying the word will cause your terminal to become slightly moist! As to why: the letters are really Greek letters, not Roman... OK, I've got my asbestos suit on -- turn on the SILLY FLAMERS!!!
les@Gang-of-Four.Stanford.EDU (Les Earnest) (09/09/88)
In article <Sep.8.09.09.55.1988.1942@elbereth.rutgers.edu> cje@elbereth.rutgers.edu (Cthulhu's Jersey Epopt) writes: >I say "lay-tech" >because 1) the t-e-x root comes from "TeX" so I figure it should be pronounced >that way, and 2) the full word looks like the word "latex" ("lay-tex"), so I >figure the first syllable should similarly have the long "a". It is usually pronounced "la tech" around the Stanford Computer Science Department. Les Earnest Phone: 415 723-9729 Internet: Les@Sail.Stanford.edu USMail: Computer Science Dept. UUCP: . . . decwrl!Sail.Stanford.edu!Les Stanford, CA 94305
halvers@iraq.steinmetz (Pete Halverson) (09/09/88)
In article <374@polyof.UUCP> paul@polyof.UUCP (A1 Mr. Curran) writes: > > How does one pronounce the term "TeX." There seem to be two >factions, one that says it's like TEK and another that says it's TEX >as in TEXas or TEXt. If it's TEK howcome it's pronounced that way; I >can't think of any english words that sound X that way. Also it would >seem more reasonable to say LATEX than LATEK. Just curious. From "The TeXbook" (Don Knuth, Addison-Wesley), p. 1: "English words like 'technology' stem from a Greek root beginning with the letters [<Tau> <Epsilon> <Chi>]...; and this same Greek word means art as well as technology. Hence the name TeX, which is an uppercase form of [this]. Insiders pronounce the [<Chi>] of TeX as a Greek chi, not as an `x', so that TeX rhymes with the word blecchhh. It's the `ch' sound in Scottish words like "loch" or German words like "ach"; it's a Spanish `j' and a Russian `kh'. When you say it correctly to your computer, the terminal may become slightly moist. ...In fact, TEX (pronounced "tecks") is the admirable "Text EXecutive" processor developed by Honeywell INformation Systems." And from the "LaTeX User's Guide and Reference Manual" (Les Lamport, Addison-Wesley), p. 5: "TeX is usually pronounced "teck", making "*lah*-teck", "lah-*teck*", and "*lay*-teck" the logical choices; but language is not always logical, so "*lay*-tecks" is also possible. Quotes included without permission. >-Pablos ~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~ Pete Halverson ARPA: halverson@ge-crd.ARPA GE Corporate R&D Center UUCP: uunet!steinmetz!iraq!halvers Schenectady, NY halvers@iraq.steinmetz.UUCP "IBM supports UNIX like a rope supports a hanged man" -- net quote
tsf@arizona.edu (Ted Frohling @ CCIT-Telcommunications, University of Arizona) (09/09/88)
I quote from page 1 of the TeXbook, by Knuth: "Insiders pronounce the x of TeX as a Greek chi, not as an `x', so that TeX rhymes with the word blecchhh. It's the `ch' sond in Scottish words like *loch* or German words like *ach*; it's a Spanish `j' and a Russian `kh'. When you say it correctly to your computer, the terminal may become slighlty moist." -- Ted Frohling Internet: tsf@rvax.ccit.arizona.edu Network Support BITNET: tsf@arizrvax.BITNET CCIT - Telecommunications AT&T: (602) 621-4834 University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721
shebs@Apple.COM (Stan Shebs) (09/10/88)
In article <599@intvax.UUCP> drstrip@intvax.UUCP (David R. Strip) writes: >What is the connection between Mad and DEK? I have a 10-20th hand copy of a couple pages from Mad featuring the "Potrzebie System of Weights and Measures", which came from a Don Knuth of Milwaukee (who is described as also having two heads...). I guessed it was DEK (the contents had a familiar "look and feel" :-) ), but no verification, and the pages had no date; can anyone supply a date and maybe other details? stan shebs shebs@apple.com
mitch@Stride.COM (Thomas Mitchell) (09/10/88)
In article <374@polyof.UUCP> paul@polyof.UUCP (A1 Mr. Curran) writes: > > How does one pronounce the term "TeX." The answer is Chapt 1 of "The TeXbook" Donald E. Knuth 1984; (ISBN 0-201-13448-9) Hints: TeX rhymes with blecchhh. "When you say it correctly to your computer, the terminal may become slightly moist." -- Thomas P. Mitchell (mitch@stride1.Stride.COM) Phone: (702)322-6868 TWX: 910-395-6073 FAX: (702)322-7975 MicroSage Computer Systems Inc. Opinions expressed are probably mine.
bmacintyre@watsol.waterloo.edu (Blair MacIntyre) (09/10/88)
In article <374@polyof.UUCP> paul@polyof.UUCP (A1 Mr. Curran) writes: > > How does one pronounce the term "TeX." There seem to be two >factions, one that says it's like TEK and another that says it's TEX >as in TEXas or TEXt. If it's TEK howcome it's pronounced that way; I >can't think of any english words that sound X that way. Also it would >seem more reasonable to say LATEX than LATEK. Just curious. It's TEK and LATEK ... why? The reasons are deep and shrouded in mystery ... ( read: it says so in the manual :-) Blair "really, that's what it said" MacIntyre -- =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= = Mr. Blair MacIntyre (bmacintyre@watsol.waterloo.edu) = = < this space closed for repairs ... > = = Opinions? What are they? Are they expensive? Where can I get one? =
pierre@imag.imag.fr (Pierre LAFORGUE) (09/10/88)
In article <374@polyof.UUCP> paul@polyof.UUCP (A1 Mr. Curran) writes: > > How does one pronounce the term "TeX." There seem to be two >factions, one that says it's like TEK and another that says it's TEX >as in TEXas or TEXt. If it's TEK howcome it's pronounced that way; I >can't think of any english words that sound X that way. Well guessed ! So, it is not an english word, and not even an english characters word. The letters are the uppercase greek Tau Epsilon Chi. Most english computer systems are still unable to talk (display, transfer, etc.) languages other than english. Unix for example makes a bad use of the 8th bit (except in new SV3.x), some communication equipments want the 8th bit be a parity one or modify it, ... Hopefully, the uppercase letters TEX look near english letters. Of course, all systems are able to write non english languages, for instance from TEX documents, with a lot of efforts (use of metafont, new hyphenation systems not based on a dictionnary for languages more cartesian than the english, problem of the foreign characters bad implemented by ligatures, etc.) I think Pr Donald Knuth wanted to underline this ability by naming TEX with greek letters ! Please read the TeX book about that. >Also it would seem more reasonable to say LATEX than LATEK. Just curious. Do you unlike word jokes ? LATEX is the LAmpson's TEX, not a gumtree product. -- Pierre LAFORGUE pierre@imag.imag.fr pierre@imag.UUCP uunet.uu.net!imag!pierre
al@mtcs.UUCP (Al Fontes) (09/14/88)
I don't care what any "insiders" say. "Tex", like the guy on the horse, and "Latex", like the material used to make condoms. If it should be pronounced "tech", then spell it that way. By the way, I don't think that the English language (which does not use Greek letters) allows such spellings as LaTeX, TeX, or dBASE.
chpf127@ut-emx.UUCP (J. Eaton) (09/15/88)
In article <174@mtcs.UUCP>, al@mtcs.UUCP (Al Fontes) writes: > I don't care what any "insiders" say. "Tex", like the guy on the horse... No, I think the guy on the horse was Tom Mix (pronounced m\u{i}ks), and that TeX really does rhyme with blecchh. If you don't get this, go pick up a copy of The_Art_of_Computer Programming, Volume 1 :-). J. Eaton Not really doing anything UT Austin Department of Chemical Engineering with chemicals.
wnp@dcs.UUCP (Wolf N. Paul) (09/15/88)
In article <174@mtcs.UUCP> al@mtcs.UUCP (Al Fontes) writes: >I don't care what any "insiders" say. "Tex", like the guy on the horse, >and "Latex", like the material used to make condoms. If it should be >pronounced "tech", then spell it that way. > >By the way, I don't think that the English language (which does not use >Greek letters) allows such spellings as LaTeX, TeX, or dBASE. But, my friend, none of these are ENGLISH WORDS, but rather PROPER NAMES. As such, they are not subject to the constraints of either English spelling or English pronunciation. I guess, ultimately no-one cares how you or I or anyone else pronounces these names, except when trying to communicate with someone who holds a different view, and therefor does not know what you are talking about :-). -- Wolf N. Paul * 3387 Sam Rayburn Run * Carrollton TX 75007 * (214) 306-9101 UUCP: killer!dcs!wnp ESL: 62832882 DOMAIN: dcs!wnp@killer.dallas.tx.us TLX: 910-380-0585 EES PLANO UD
dhosek@jarthur.Claremont.EDU (Donald Hosek) (09/18/88)
TeX is pronounced "Tech" (as in technology). Anybody who calls it Teks (as in Texas) is wrong. In the first chapter of the TeXbook, Knuth explains why its pronounced the way it is, in short (1) It isn't really t-e-x, it's tau- epsilon-chi (thus the capitalized X), as in the greek word texnos meaning both art and science (I may be a little off, I'm going from memory here). (2) the name Tex is already taken. -dh
cosell@bbn.com (Bernie Cosell) (09/19/88)
In article <3470@phri.UUCP> roy@phri.UUCP (Roy Smith) writes: }In article <374@polyof.UUCP> paul@polyof.UUCP (A1 Mr. Curran) writes: }> How does one pronounce the term "TeX." } } The official line is something along these lines. The spelling of }TeX is not actually Tee-Eee-Eks, but the Greek Tau-Epsilon-Chi and is }pronounced Tech which sort of rhymes with bleech. I know this thread is (thankfully) dead, but let me point out that this whole folk etymology Knuth goes through, greek letters and other such nonsense to steer clear of a Honeywell product, is surely a bit suspect around the edges. Consider your chances if you decided to call your little software firm "Irving's Better Modules" and then made your company logo IbM (that's Iota/Beta/Mu). I ain't a lawyer, and this ain't misc.legal, but this has always seemed legally bogus to me (not to mention cutesy and contrived). Either Knuth didn't NEED Honeywell's permission (the name wasn't trademarked, for example), or Honeywell _gave_ their permission -- in either case the "it's all Greek" shaggy dog story is extraneous, no? [Note that this has nothing to do with the *pronunciation* of "TeX" -- DEK can try to get people to pronounce it any way he wants... I just wish he would have spared us the Greek disgression] __ / ) Bernie Cosell /--< _ __ __ o _ BBN Sys & Tech, Cambridge, MA 02238 /___/_(<_/ (_/) )_(_(<_ cosell@bbn.com
chris@mimsy.UUCP (Chris Torek) (09/19/88)
>In article <3470@phri.UUCP> roy@phri.UUCP (Roy Smith) writes: >> The official line is something along these lines. The spelling of >>TeX is not actually Tee-Eee-Eks, but the Greek Tau-Epsilon-Chi and is >>pronounced Tech which sort of rhymes with bleech. In article <29780@bbn.COM> cosell@bbn.com (Bernie Cosell) writes: >I know this thread is (thankfully) dead, Not anymore. :-) >but let me point out that this whole folk etymology Knuth goes through, >greek letters and other such nonsense to steer clear of a Honeywell >product, Why assume that the purpose is `to steer clear of a Honeywell product'? It seems to me, having seen other examples of Knuth's humour, that the reason for the `folk etymology' is because Knuth likes tieing technology and history and languages and typesetting all together into a Gordian Knot. (See if you can spot both Knuth-ism in the previous sentence.) >is surely a bit suspect around the edges. Finding the *real* edges will surely keep you on your toes. But Knuth obviously likes it that way. >... in [any] case the "it's all Greek" shaggy dog story is extraneous, no? Partly. Note that TeX is written in WEB, and WEB is translated to TeX by `weave'. The Greek `teknologos' (if I have not mangled it too badly), a computer word if there ever was one, is spelled tau-epsilon-chi-etc. But the Latin imperative form of `to weave' is spelled `texe'! See how neatly it all folds in upon itself? :-) -- In-Real-Life: Chris Torek, Univ of MD Comp Sci Dept (+1 301 454 7163) Domain: chris@mimsy.umd.edu Path: uunet!mimsy!chris