Pronunciation of "char"

[Mark McIntyre]

On Tue, 20 Jul 2004 19:03:06 GMT, in comp.lang.c ,

Still don't get it. Sounds like I'm dictating a letter to a former leader
of Iran.

t(s)ch is how you write the hard ch sound (church, chicken), to
differentiate it from the soft ch (charlatan, choux) or the throatier cgh
we scots like (loch, och aye the noo).

It also helps differentiate between c(h)ar and (t)char, the fomer being
pronounced like automobile, the latter like incinerate.

FTR I think its incinerate.

 

[Mark McIntyre]

Then why isn't it spelt "Raymond Luxury Yacht"?

You're a very silly man and I'm not going to talk to you.

 

[Gregory Pietsch]

Now I know (from Stroustrup's site) that "char" is pronounced "tchar"
and not "kar".

Does the same hold true largely in the C world?

In English, the word "char" is usually pronounced like the English
words "char", "car", or "care". There is a FAQ about this.

Gregory Pietsch

 

[Rich Gibbs]

Kenny McCormack said the following, on 07/20/04 15:03:

wrote: [snip]

"Char" is an English word, spoken "tchar".

I don't follow this. Where is the 't' coming from?

Say "tuh shah". And again, but slightly faster. And again, faster still. And
again, ...

Still don't get it. Sounds like I'm dictating a letter to a former leader
of Iran.

The 't' is really coming from an attempt to represent the vocal
production of the 'hard ch' sound -- the one at the beginning of the
word 'charcoal' or 'cheese' -- as distinct from the 'soft ch' in
'charade' or 'champagne'.

If you pronounce 'char' as in 'charcoal', notice that the tip of your
tongue starts out behind your top teeth. That's the same position it
starts in to pronounce 'two'; that's where the 't' comes from.

 

[Allin Cottrell]

In English, the word "char" is usually pronounced like the English
words "char", "car", or "care". There is a FAQ about this.

Although I discuss C online I very rarely get the opportunity to
talk about C with other programmers. So my pronunciation of
"char" is perhaps idiosyncratic. But I hear it as (and say it
as, if I'm talking C to myself), the first syllable of the word
"character". Thus it does not sound like any of the English words
"car", "care" or "char": it sounds like "char" as in "charisma",
or "car" as in "carapace" or "caravan". FWIW.

Allin Cottrell.

 

[Peter Shaggy Haywood]

Groovy hepcat Debajit Adhikary was jivin' on 20 Jul 2004 05:21:06
-0700 in comp.lang.c.
Pronunciation of "char"'s a cool scene! Dig it!

Now I know (from Stroustrup's site) that "char" is pronounced "tchar"
and not "kar".

Does the same hold true largely in the C world?

Look, everybody knows it's pronounced "teefkac". This pronunciation
is derived from the acronym "TFKAC" which stands for "type formerly
known as char".

--

Dig the even newer still, yet more improved, sig!

http://alphalink.com.au/~phaywood/
"Ain't I'm a dog?" - Ronny Self, Ain't I'm a Dog, written by G. Sherry & W. Walker.
I know it's not "technically correct" English; but since when was rock & roll "technically correct"?

 

[Serge Paccalin]

Le mardi 20 juillet 2004 à 18:36, Dan Pop a écrit dans comp.lang.c :

I know, but it is as relevant as the English "char" word.

You're right, both are relevant.

--
___________ 2004-07-21 08:12:01
_/ _ \_`_`_`_) Serge PACCALIN -- sp ad mailclub.net
\ \_L_) Il faut donc que les hommes commencent
-'(__) par n'être pas fanatiques pour mériter
_/___(_) la tolérance. -- Voltaire, 1763

 

[Arthur J. O'Dwyer]

Although I discuss C online I very rarely get the opportunity to
talk about C with other programmers. So my pronunciation of
"char" is perhaps idiosyncratic. But I hear it as (and say it
as, if I'm talking C to myself), the first syllable of the word
"character". Thus it does not sound like any of the English words
"car", "care" or "char": it sounds like "char" as in "charisma",
or "car" as in "carapace" or "caravan". FWIW.

Not that that's going to help many people, at least not those
that talk like me. I pronounce the "char" in "character" exactly
as in "care," ditto "carapace" (which could be "care-a-pace" or
"care-uh-piss," like "wahter"/"wutter") and "caravan." And I
pronounce "charisma" as "ker-iz-mah," with a schwa, which doesn't
sound anything like "care."

So I've got no idea how you pronounce "char," except that I'd
guess it's with either a British accent or a Southern one.

-Arthur

 

[Alan Balmer]

Kenny McCormack said the following, on 07/20/04 15:03:

wrote: [snip]

"Char" is an English word, spoken "tchar".

I don't follow this. Where is the 't' coming from?

Say "tuh shah". And again, but slightly faster. And again, faster still. And
again, ...

Still don't get it. Sounds like I'm dictating a letter to a former leader
of Iran.

The 't' is really coming from an attempt to represent the vocal
production of the 'hard ch' sound -- the one at the beginning of the
word 'charcoal' or 'cheese' -- as distinct from the 'soft ch' in
'charade' or 'champagne'.

If you pronounce 'char' as in 'charcoal', notice that the tip of your
tongue starts out behind your top teeth. That's the same position it
starts in to pronounce 'two'; that's where the 't' comes from.

An interesting thread, though I have doubts about its topicality. Am I
the only one who pronounces "char" like the first syllable of
"character"?

 

[Dan Pop]

An interesting thread, though I have doubts about its topicality. Am I

It's off topic because it's already covered by the FAQ.

the only one who pronounces "char" like the first syllable of
"character"?

I suspect this is the prevalent pronunciation among the non-anglophone and
non-francophone programmers. For anglophone and francophone programmers,
only a properly conducted survey could provide some meaningful data.

Dan

 

[Allin Cottrell]

Not that that's going to help many people, at least not those
that talk like me. I pronounce the "char" in "character" exactly
as in "care,"... ditto "carapace" (which could be "care-a-pace" or

So I've got no idea how you pronounce "char," except that I'd
guess it's with either a British accent or a Southern one.

British. The 'a' sound is the same as in 'and'. Don't tell me
you pronounce that 'aind' or 'ahnd'!

Allin

 

[Default User]

Allin Cottrell wrote:

Although I discuss C online I very rarely get the opportunity to
talk about C with other programmers. So my pronunciation of
"char" is perhaps idiosyncratic. But I hear it as (and say it
as, if I'm talking C to myself), the first syllable of the word
"character". Thus it does not sound like any of the English words
"car", "care" or "char": it sounds like "char" as in "charisma",
or "car" as in "carapace" or "caravan". FWIW.

Sounds like some real pronounciation differences. To me, the first
syllables of "carapace" and "caravan" sound like "care". The word
"charisma" sounds like "kuh-risma".

Now I feel like I'm on alt.usage.english. They love this stuff.

Oh, for "char" I say "car", like what you drive around in.



Brian Rodenborn

 

[Allin Cottrell]

Sounds like some real pronounciation differences. To me, the first
syllables of "carapace" and "caravan" sound like "care". The word
"charisma" sounds like "kuh-risma".

Sorry, "charisma" was a bad example: s/charisma/charismatic

Allin Cottrell

 

[Default User]

Default User wrote:

Sorry, "charisma" was a bad example: s/charisma/charismatic

Ah, that is different, and I'd agree that it sounds like the other two.
Also like "care".




Brian Rodenborn

 

[Allin Cottrell]

Ah, that is different, and I'd agree that it sounds like the other two.
Also like "care".

care-is-matic? Ok, I give up.

Allin Cottrell.

 

[Mark McIntyre]

Allin Cottrell wrote:




Sounds like some real pronounciation differences. To me, the first
syllables of "carapace" and "caravan" sound like "care". The word
"charisma" sounds like "kuh-risma".

Weird. As far as I'm concerned, they're all identical - kar. The a may be
a little longer in carapace.

 

[Darrell Grainger]

Now I know (from Stroustrup's site) that "char" is pronounced "tchar"
and not "kar".

Incorrect. Bjarne pronounces it as "tchar". Different people will
pronounce it differently. Some will sound it out as they read it "char" as
in charcoal. Others will sound it out based on what they believe it
represents "care" as in character. Others will use "car" because they are
slurring character. Some will go so far as to pronounce it "character".

The correct why to pronounce it is whatever way the people in the
conversation will understand.

Does the same hold true largely in the C world?

What I said holds true in the C world as well.

 

[Kenneth Brody]

Kenny McCormack wrote:
[...]

I don't follow this. Where is the 't' coming from?

I pronounce it "char", like in "char broiled steaks".

I assume he's trying to distinguish the hard "ch" of "chair" from the
soft "ch" of "chartreuse".