[pronunciation] How do you say !|^*&@?
I am amused by a trend in computer science texts. It is probably seen in other places, too, but I keep running over it in the things I have to read for my classes.
It is the tendency to say that symbols have a pronunciation. Not that they stand for something, but implying that they are actually those words.
For example:
"We can place a special symbol | (pronounced 'bar') in the list to distinguish between the first item in the list and the remaining list."
That would be like saying, "Use a ! (pronounced 'bang') to denote a not condition."
Of course, this, especially the bar, which I've never heard another name for, prevents comp sci students from sounding like retards when referring to code. Because, who can sound intelligent when they are saying, "You know, that up and down thingy on the right side of the keyboard. You know what I mean?"
It is the tendency to say that symbols have a pronunciation. Not that they stand for something, but implying that they are actually those words.
For example:
"We can place a special symbol | (pronounced 'bar') in the list to distinguish between the first item in the list and the remaining list."
That would be like saying, "Use a ! (pronounced 'bang') to denote a not condition."
Of course, this, especially the bar, which I've never heard another name for, prevents comp sci students from sounding like retards when referring to code. Because, who can sound intelligent when they are saying, "You know, that up and down thingy on the right side of the keyboard. You know what I mean?"