Re: [OT] Of the meaning of GNUS

[Robert Marshall <spam@chezmarshall.freeserve.co.uk>]

On Sun, 04 May 2003, Lloyd Zusman wrote:

> kai.grossjohann@gmx.net (Kai Großjohann) writes:
> 
>> Lloyd Zusman <ljz@asfast.com> writes:
>>
>>> In English, the word "gnu" (meaning "wildebeest") can be
>>> pronounced with a silent "g", so that it sounds exactly the same
>>> as "new".  Therefore, using that convention, "Gnus" would be
>>> pronounced like "news".  Since Gnus was originally created as a
>>> usenet newsreader, that's a very appropriate name.
>>
>> I understand that the G is not silent, says Lars.
> 
> Check "gnu" in an English dictionary.  I looked in several, and in
> all cases, the "g" is silent.  The first pronunciation is "noo", and
> the second one is "nyoo" (as if the "gn" were reversed to "ng", and
> the "g" turned into a glide).
> 

Not in my (english) English dictionary it isn't - well it has 'nu or
(humorous) g'nu'! I've always pronounced it in the second form but
maybe there was too much of an influence of Flanders and Swann in my
formative years. Maybe it's a transatlantic problem?

Robert 
-- 
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A world that smiles
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