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From: mrz5149@rit.cs.rit.edu (M. R. Zucca)
Subject: Re: How to say ..... in English?
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References: <30CE65DA.55B1@is.tokushima-u.ac.jp> <DJIqEr.BsM@discus.technion.ac.il> <DJJpIp.47n@world.std.com> <30D198AC.41C6@kurz-ai.com> <ACFBCD83966811EBD@entergrp.demon.co.uk> <30D7EDC8.75B9@esoc.bitnet>
Date: Wed, 20 Dec 1995 17:46:48 GMT
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In article <30D7EDC8.75B9@esoc.bitnet>, Neal Nelson <nnelson@esoc.bitnet> wrote:
 
> In the computer field, '(' and ')' are known as brackets, except
> in American literature

...and American programming where they are also known as parenthases or
"parens" as another poster pointed out.

> whist insists on calling them parentheses,
> a word which most English have trouble getting their gobs around.
> Other kinds of brackets are just square brackets or curly brackets.

Curly brackets? Some people call them "curly braces" or just braces so that
you have unique words for each:

() - Parenthases
[] - Brackets
{} - Braces

> One thing that puzzles me: why is maths called 'math' in America?
> Maths is obviously short for mathematics and therefore a logical
> contraction. Do Americans use an alternate root for this word?

I cound never understand why it was "maths" in England.

Mathematics -> Math by way of: Mathematics - ematics
A nice clean trim.

Mathematics -> Maths ends up: Mathematics - ematic
Which leaves a sloppy remainder of an 's'. :)

-- 
______________________________________________________________________________
 Michael Zucca <> mrz5149@rit.cs.rit.edu <> Rochester Institute Of Technology
     "If the speed of light is not infinite, then it's awful damned fast."
                                  - Galileo -
