A Lament for W
No, this isn't a post about George W Bush; I've already done that.
Instead, this is a blog about the letter W. I feel sorry for W; you see, it's hard to pronounce.
Consider the phrase, the "World Wide Web." It is easy to say; it's concise, with only three syllables, rolling off the tongue.
Ironically, its abbreviation, "WWW" is a veritable tongue twister, requiring a total of nine syllables to spit out — or six, if you slur your speech. Though I've heard a few utterances of "Dub, dub, dub" instead of "Double-U, double-U, double-U," I've never heard of W being pronounced "Dub" in other situations.
I think it's time to start doing do. After all, the other 25 letters in the English alphabet all enjoy one syllable brevity. I think W deserves similar treatment. We need equality for all letters, regardless of their origin or history. Let's strike a blow for balance and fairness by treating W with the same accord given to all other letters. Let's be politically correct and call him "Dub" — like he deserves.
What do you think? Will it catch on? Will you give it a try?
[For more on this "fascinating" subject, see a similar discussion about the number seven, as well as "The Proper Spelling of the Letters of the Alphabet"]
Instead, this is a blog about the letter W. I feel sorry for W; you see, it's hard to pronounce.
Consider the phrase, the "World Wide Web." It is easy to say; it's concise, with only three syllables, rolling off the tongue.
Ironically, its abbreviation, "WWW" is a veritable tongue twister, requiring a total of nine syllables to spit out — or six, if you slur your speech. Though I've heard a few utterances of "Dub, dub, dub" instead of "Double-U, double-U, double-U," I've never heard of W being pronounced "Dub" in other situations.
I think it's time to start doing do. After all, the other 25 letters in the English alphabet all enjoy one syllable brevity. I think W deserves similar treatment. We need equality for all letters, regardless of their origin or history. Let's strike a blow for balance and fairness by treating W with the same accord given to all other letters. Let's be politically correct and call him "Dub" — like he deserves.
What do you think? Will it catch on? Will you give it a try?
[For more on this "fascinating" subject, see a similar discussion about the number seven, as well as "The Proper Spelling of the Letters of the Alphabet"]
Posted by Peter DeHaan at 2/6/2009 10:21 AM 
Categories: Humor, Internet
Tags: the letter W Peter DeHaan blog author Peter DeHaan Peter DeHaan Musings Musings of Peter DeHaan
Categories: Humor, Internet
Tags: the letter W Peter DeHaan blog author Peter DeHaan Peter DeHaan Musings Musings of Peter DeHaan
Just thought I'd drop a thought on this subject. I recently had a discussion/brainstorm with others on the very same idea. We came to the same conclusion, however, it was through a different route.
We were talking about a popular restaurant, often used by those in the college-scene. This place is BW3's and it is more often referred "B-dubs."
We decided that "W" deserved to have a single syllable pronunciation as well, especially because of its prevalence in "www." I do have to say, though, that we were not exactly taken with the term "dub dub dub" but I couldn't explain why, only that I doubt that would catch on, especially if the trend continues and people stop saying "www" as is so common practice now.
Reply to this