How do you pronounce it? GIF (Graphics Interchange Format)

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the pronunciation of the acronym "GIF" (Graphics Interchange Format), exploring whether it should be pronounced with a hard 'g' as in "gift" or a soft 'g' as in "giraffe." Participants share their personal pronunciations and engage in light-hearted banter about language and pronunciation variations.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that "GIF" is pronounced with a plosive 'g', similar to "gift," while others claim it is pronounced with an affricate 'g', akin to "giraffe."
  • A participant references the creators of the format, suggesting they intended the plosive pronunciation.
  • Several participants express their personal preferences for pronunciation, with some stating they pronounce it as "jif," similar to the peanut butter brand.
  • There is a discussion about the pronunciation of the word "data," with varying opinions on whether it should be pronounced with a long or short 'a'.
  • Some participants mention the existence of words that start with 'gi' and question their pronunciation, leading to a playful exchange about language rules.
  • A participant humorously suggests that the pronunciation debate reflects broader issues in English spelling and pronunciation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the pronunciation of "GIF," with multiple competing views expressed throughout the discussion.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes playful banter and references to personal experiences with pronunciation, highlighting the subjective nature of language and regional variations.

  • #31
Gokul43201 said:
Plosive g here too - just like 'gift' (jypht).
Moonbear said:
:smile: Hopefully MIH already finished her Coke and Evo hasn't started on her coffee yet.

heh heh. Jokul 'ploded! :smile:
 
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  • #32
I pronounce it how it looks... "gif" with a G as in gah
 
  • #33
Math Is Hard said:
Hey! Them's fightin' words!:mad:
Well, then there's only only way to pronounce d-a-t-a. Now say after me : loo-ten-uhnt cum-man-duhr day-tah
 
  • #34
Gokul43201 said:
Well, then there's only only way to pronounce d-a-t-a. Now say after me : loo-ten-uhnt cum-man-duhr day-tah
My Alabama cousins call him Day-ter.:biggrin:
 
  • #35
I agree, it's day-ta, but a single datum should be pronounced with a really nasal Joyzee a. :biggrin: I don't even know how to explain that sound in writing...not ah, not ay, more like the a in apple, but you've got to give it a good dose of nasal-ness. :smile:
 
  • #36
I waver. Sometimes your way and sometimes dottum and dotta.
 
  • #38
Math Is Hard said:
me, too. Just like the peanut butter. But I hear people say it both ways all the time.
I also say the first vowel of data sometimes with long a and sometimes with short a. I've never really decided which I like better.
Nope, it's a hard G as in gift.

A poor girl in our data training class said "dahtah", and the instructor jumped down her throat and told her to never pronounce it that way again. It's "DAY tah" It has become skewed though over the years, but back in the early 70's we only designed DAY tah circuits.
 
  • #39
Evo said:
Nope, it's a hard G as in gift.
I first heard it as "jiff" probably around 1989 and it stuck. Here's some more people sold on the "jiff" pronounciantion:
http://www.olsenhome.com/gif/
CompuServe used to distribute a graphics display program called CompuShow.
In the documentation for version 8.33 in the FAQ section, it states:
The GIF (Graphics Interchange Format), pronounced "JIF", was designed by CompuServe and the official specification released in June of 1987.
So, I'm not so crazy after all. :smile:
A poor girl in our data training class said "dahtah", and the instructor jumped down her throat and told her to never pronounce it that way again. It's "DAY tah" It has become skewed though over the years, but back in the early 70's we only designed DAY tah circuits.
wow. harsh! We're so lenient in California. Tomato, tomahto, whatever. :smile:
 
  • #40
OK, now do Giga, as in Gigabyte.
 
  • #41
It's got to be Gigabyte as in 'gig'.

Because 'Jiggabyte' just sounds like it would cost you a 20 to get one for the groom-to-be.
 
  • #42
I pronounce it zjlllrfff but then I'm from Zunarb 7, and we have a 4 ft tongue that rolls up to fit in a small mouth.

I don't think it matters how you pronounce most things, just as long as they don't shoot you for being an ugly reptillian space monster. You Earthlings are weird.:rolleyes::smile:
 
  • #43
Schrödinger's Dog said:
I pronounce it zjlllrfff but then I'm from Zunarb 7, and we have a 4 ft tongue that rolls up to fit in a small mouth.
My wife wants your phone number.
 
  • #44
DaveC426913 said:
My wife wants your phone number.

I was wondering how long it would take for someone to make a "Jim Carrey in Earth Girls are Easy" comment.
 
  • #45
George Jones said:
I was wondering how long it would take for someone to make a "Jim Carrey in Earth Girls are Easy" comment.
:biggrin: ooh, great movie! I have the soundtrack.
Cause I'm a blonde, yeah, yeah, yeah.
 
  • #46
pronouced withte the "g"et...i don't think i know anyone who pronounces it "jif"
 
  • #47
JIF is peanut butter. :biggrin:

Gif is graphics. :rolleyes:
 
  • #48
neurocomp2003 said:
pronouced withte the "g"et...i don't think i know anyone who pronounces it "jif"

Last night, within the span of a minute, my wife pronounced it both ways. :biggrin:
 
  • #49
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GIF
Pronunciation: Some English-speakers pronounce the acronym "GIF" with a plosive (as in the word "gift"). However, the creators of the file format pronounced the acronym as "JIF" during its unveiling presentation in the 1980s. Surveys reveal that around 70% of speakers prefer the plosive pronunciation. [3], which is consistent with the pronunciation of the individual words in the acronym.

So about 30% of us choosy mothers choose "jiff". :biggrin: