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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,055
old hand
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OP
old hand
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,055 |
Have you ever noticed how many abbreviations & acronyms there are where people have to or are inclined to say the last word of the group in order for it to be understood, such as 'PIN number' 'IBAN number' (international bank account number)? I have a feeling this is more common in English than other languages. Are we sloppy or overly cautious? Next we'll be saying, 'Would you like my international banking IBAN number'. Now I would like to know if there's a word for *that. (besides tautology)
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154 |
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,891
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,891 |
In the American retail trade, we have the same thing with UPC. It stands for Universal Product Code – that black ‘n white square with lines you find on every product with a 12-digit code below it. Nobody says, “what’s the UPC?” They always say, “What’s the UPC code?
And, to make matters worse, whenever I say “What’s the UPC” people always pause and look like they’re trying to figure out what I’m saying; like I haven’t finished my sentence, or something. It’s really odd.
Zed's right, UPC code is redundant, yet it has now become that specific term.
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
Sheesh!! You people act like a little redundancy was the end of the world. Redundancy is good! Redundancy ensures that you'll be understood. Redundancy gives you a better signal to noise ratio. Remember, every time you use some plural number with a plural form of a noun, you're being redundant. Every time your verb agrees with your subject you're being redundant. Embrace redundancy. Redundancy is your friend.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,526
veteran
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veteran
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,526 |
The redundancy that irritates me the most is the term "software program" that seems ubiquitous in manager-speak, but "PIN number" is a close second.
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
We have a reporter on the ground investigating this.
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,891
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,891 |
I'm not sure I'm grasping what you have to say there Faldage, can you go over it one more time? 
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
The redundancy that irritates me the most is the term "software program"
And what is redundant about "software program"? There are other kinds of programs and there are examples of software that don't qualify as programs.
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3
stranger
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stranger
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3 |
An Hispanic friend of mine goes crazy when she hears, "salsa sauce." Do people say it so they don't mistakenly get "salsa dance" with their tacos? Another annoying culinary redundancy is the phrase, "with au jus."
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,379
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,379 |
>>Do people say it so they don't mistakenly get "salsa dance" with their tacos?<<
Heaven forefend!
***
Maybe they think salsa means "hot"? or is that generous?
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