More and more frequently I've been hearing the acronym, ASAP, being vocalized as a new whole word, a-sap, especially in the media...another case of an acronym emerging from a phrase (as soon as possible) to become an acronym, and then a new word in its own right...is there a name for this singular linguistic process, specific to the transition of an acronym into a word? (tsuwm?) How many other acronyms can we find that have become new words following this process? (i.e. AWOL)

radar
quasar
laser

There's a hattrick to kick it off.

by definition, strictly speaking, an acronym IS a pronounceable word formed from (usually) the initial letters of words. when it is pronounced as the letters, it's called an initialism. (using non-initial letters really results in portmanteau words.)

Wikipedia has a fair gloss: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acronym

some more examples:
scuba
aids
and from the military, SNAFU, FUBAR, etc.

[I'm sure this must be YART material :) ]

"vin" = vehicle identification number.

I hear it pronounced on radio ads for auto sales all the time.

pronounced on radio ads

I know this nitpick is a rehash, but vin is usually said as part of the phrase "vin number...

It is not too nitpicky for me! It drives me bonkers when people say "VIN number" or "PIN number" ... but, then again, I am a prescriptivist and our lot is destined to suffer such pains.

A prescriptivist is just a descriptivist who is describing a limited (and often obsolete) subset of the language.

;)

A prescriptivist is just a descriptivist who is describing a limited (and often obsolete) subset of the language.

Or sometimes just an imaginary dialect.

It drives me bonkers when people say "VIN number" or "PIN number"

I just pretend they're saying "VINumber" and "PINumber" and leave the driving to Ralph Cramden. How 'bout folks wot sez "FB of I"?

How 'bout folks wot sez "FB of I"?

There used to be a bank in Tacoma called the National Bank of Commerce. My dad referred to it as the "NB of C" which he claimed to distinguish it from the National Broadcasting Company. I didn't see the necessity for the distinction as one would as rarely say "I am going to apply for a loan from the National Broadcasting Company" as "I think I'll tune in to the National Bank of Commerce to listen to the ball game."

How 'bout folks wot sez "FB of I"?

did you mean to say the feebee's? F B I or even FB of I is so yesterday.. they are the feds, or specifically, the feebees.

Years ago, I worked on a case with the Auto-Theft Section of the Washington State Patrol. Our case involved the transporation of stolen vehicles across state lines. This meant that the FBI became involved. The state-trooper detectives did not think highly of the FBI agents and referred to them, behind their backs as the "Fan Belt Inspectors."

I'm sure this must be YART material :)

Sure it's a yartichoke®, tsuwm...but, you know, some folks consider yartichoke a delicacy.

The state-trooper detectives did not think highly of the FBI agents and referred to them, behind their backs as the "Fan Belt Inspectors."

No-one likes anyone invading their turf, Father Steve.

It seems to be a "natural reaction" to outsiders, whatever their level of competence.

It's a staple of every cop movie including the one now playing with Angelina Jolie in the title role*, an FBI agent who picks up all the clues the local guys keep missing.

I'm sure the "Fan Belt Inspectors" just went about their business solving the crime ... just like Angelina Jolie.

*"Taking Lives"
Synopsis: When Montreal detectives ask for an outsider's help to get inside the head of a cunning serial killer, top FBI profiler Illeana Scott (Angelina Jolie) joins the case.

http://movies.yahoo.com/movies/feature/takinglives.html

I think the Montreal cops are being a bit pig-headed myself. I'd love to have Angelina Jolie on my squad, even if she was only a "Fan Belt Inspector".

The "Fan Belt Inspection Patrol" would become every inspector's favorite duty. That's what I suspect.

---and some police officers are wont to call the feds who intrude into their jurisdiction as "The F'nBI."
And some pilots have been heard to call the Federal Aviation Administration "The F'nAA."
Not that I would ever use those phrases!
(running to hide behind a very big rock -e)

No, not much, Ann ...

These two could use a thread of thier own, but hey, why tramp all over precious *real estate.

A prescriptivist is just a descriptivist who is describing a limited (and often obsolete) subset of the language.

Or sometimes just an imaginary dialect.

Then one can't be one without the other and we should just call all of us "rescriptivists", which is, Shirley, the intention of both... er... all.

Remember, your script is only good at the AWAD Company Store.

Remember, your script is only good at the AWAD Company Store.

His script deserves better company ... present company excluded, of course.

you could say the acronym was "naturalized" into the language.

How about radared, lasered, or better still...pinned?

the acronym was "naturalized" into the language

Very nice, raju.