*BSD News Article 99448


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From: David Lawver <dmlawver@facstaff.wisc.edu>
Newsgroups: comp.unix.bsd.misc,comp.unix.shell,comp.os.linux.misc,comp.os.linux.x,alt.os.linux,comp.unix.freebsd.misc,gnu.misc.discuss,comp.unix.solaris
Subject: Re: unix acronyms - collecting a list?
Date: Fri, 11 Jul 1997 18:09:41 -0500
Organization: University of Wisconsin, Madison
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> > > > >>users. (Same thing I suppose.) To quote from the vi manual: "vi -
> > > > >>pronounced vee-eye".
> > Not on the three major-vendor Unices I checked...
> But see the O'Reilly book, Learning the vi Editor.  On
> page 1:  (vi is short for visual editor and is
> pronounced "vee-eye.")

Much as I love and respect anything O'Reilly, I wouldn't call that
book the "vi manual" in any context. That would be the results of
man vi
on your favorite *[iu]x

The work I would regard as canonic on computer lexicographic matters
is the Jargon File, AKA New Hacker's Dictionary. Indeed, it states
that the pronunciation is "/V-I/, not /vi:/ and never /siks/".

It does, however, state the etymology as "from `Visual Interface'",
not "editor".

--
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
David Lawver - speaking for me, not UW-Madison, DoIT, or anyone else
dmlawver@facstaff.wisc.edu dlawver@doit.wisc.edu lawvd@world.std.com
"Those who would do away with essential liberties for the sake of a
little safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - Benjamin Franklin