Rant! | FerrariChat

Rant!

Discussion in 'Other Off Topic Forum' started by texasmr2, Apr 26, 2015.

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  1. texasmr2

    texasmr2 Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Oct 22, 2007
    22,232
    Houston
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    Gregg
    Can somebody explain when Z became pronounced as ZED? Irritates the life out of me,

    Discuss.
     
  2. SefacHotRodder

    SefacHotRodder F1 World Champ

    Dec 20, 2003
    11,158
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    Some might ask when "Zed" became "Zee"....

     
  3. texasmr2

    texasmr2 Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Oct 22, 2007
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    Gregg
    Is it a tomato or a tomatoe, lets just call the whole thing off.
     
  4. tomc

    tomc Two Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 13, 2014
    26,056
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    Another question for a quiet Sunday afternoon w/ no F1 racing (and Mets not playing until tonight) - why do the Brits etc not call "cee" -> "ced", "gee" -> "ged"?!? I had an Australian colleague, who referred to the letter "h" as haytch (my attempt at phonetic spelling) rather than the more typical "aytch" one hears in the States. Of course, I was born in Brooklyn, so any posts from me having to do with pronunciation have to be taken with a very large grain of salt....T
     
  5. tomc

    tomc Two Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 13, 2014
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    In the South, I think it's "mater", Gregg. :) ...T
     
  6. ScuderiaWithStickPlease

    ScuderiaWithStickPlease F1 World Champ

    Dec 17, 2007
    10,263
    NY Metro
    Hasn't it always been Zed in math, stats and science?
     
  7. texasmr2

    texasmr2 Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Oct 22, 2007
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    LMAO and you are on point (or should I say pernt?)

    No F1 does lead to random thoughts instigated by none other than Jack Handy.
     
  8. tomc

    tomc Two Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 13, 2014
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    Can only speak to science. Mainly usage of zed that I have seen is by Brits and folks from former Commonwealth countries....T
     
  9. ScuderiaWithStickPlease

    ScuderiaWithStickPlease F1 World Champ

    Dec 17, 2007
    10,263
    NY Metro
    Thanks.
     
  10. texasmr2

    texasmr2 Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Oct 22, 2007
    22,232
    Houston
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    Gregg
    I was watching a episode of "Legendary Motorcar" and Peter talked with a American collector and when this collector referred to a specific car (cannot remember the exact car) he used the term "Zed" and I immediately thought what a poseur. At least I will know what the bloody wanker is referring too the next time I cross the bayou.
     
  11. GordonC

    GordonC F1 Rookie
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Aug 28, 2005
    4,163
    Calgary, AB, Canada
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    Gordon
    Other way around - can someone explain when ZED became ZEE? :(

    Canadians still say ZED - unless we're being typically polite around Americans, then we say ZEE for their benefit. ;)
     
  12. texasmr2

    texasmr2 Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Oct 22, 2007
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    Ah, Canadians, the other North Americans.

    Oop's.
     
  13. tomc

    tomc Two Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 13, 2014
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    Bless you Canadians for humoring us! ;) Post # 2 suggested it was 1800's, which seems reasonable. Americans trying to sound less British after the Revolutionary War?

    I personally don't think it's that big of a deal since the British seem to actively try to replace many an "ess" with a "zed"! Amortize to Amortise, Catalyze to Catalyse, etc. :)

    Was it GB Shaw who said something along the lines - America and Britain, two nations divided by a common language? Heck, we in the Southern US have enough issues being understood by our own countrymen on the coasts and up north, what with our fixin', y'all, dang, etc. So, being mis-understood by ferners (Google it!) haint worth hollerin' bout...T
     
  14. Jack-the-lad

    Jack-the-lad Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    It does sound pretentious when Americans say "zed." I suppose I would use it if I were in a foreign country, just as a matter of custom and to be better understood. But for the life of me, after having made dozens of trips to dozens of countries, I can't recall ever having needed to use it!
     
  15. kevfla

    kevfla Formula 3

    Nov 20, 2003
    2,086
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    gone 4 good
    I guess an American pronouncing it as "zed" would be the same sort of bloke that draws a small crossbar on his 7s. Unless he or she is regularily dealing with Europeans or Asians, it's likely a pretentious affectation.
     
  16. tomc

    tomc Two Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 13, 2014
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    Tom C

    Uh oh. :) I do that, but as a scientist it is a leftover from written notebooks, to make it easier to distinguish from a 1 or l. Likewise, with putting a slash through a 0 to distinguish from o, or same deal with a zee, oops zed, to distinguish from 2....T
     
  17. Cigarzman

    Cigarzman F1 Veteran
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Who is Zed ? Zeds dead baby , Zeds dead. ( Pulp Fiction ).
     
  18. kevfla

    kevfla Formula 3

    Nov 20, 2003
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    gone 4 good
    You get a professional exemption.
     
  19. muk_yan_jong

    muk_yan_jong Formula Junior

    Oct 11, 2008
    569
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    Brian McK
    I do this as well. Mostly for clarity when dealing with young people whose spelling and recognition of letters have been perverted by texting and slangspeak.
     
  20. zudnic

    zudnic Formula 3

    Nov 13, 2014
    1,896
    Vancouver
    I tend to do both. But in some things I'm more American over Canadian. Like spelling, color instead of colour, or labor versus labour. I only use the metric system in Canadian deli's. Temp and distance, I always use Fahrenheit and miles. In temp I don't understand Celsius at all. I did most of my high school in Nevada. Lived in the states off and on for the past 30 years. I've had Canadians ask me what part of the states do I come from. Americans are always surprised I'm Canadian, even in non border states like Arizona.
     
  21. DrJan

    DrJan Formula Junior

    Feb 28, 2015
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    Dr Jan P
    Zee? Never heard that one! And I do have one American friend.
     
  22. zudnic

    zudnic Formula 3

    Nov 13, 2014
    1,896
    Vancouver
    If I say the Corvette ZR1 or ZO6, I use Zed. If its the Nissan Z series I say Zee. See interchangeable, depends on the Z item.

    Oh the common wealth is still around, it has 53 member states (most have British influence in language). 16 members states have Queen Elizabeth II as head of state, including Canada.

    I believe BC is the most Americanized of the Canadian provinces. Majority of our TV channels are American out of Seattle. TV has a big influence on language.
     
  23. Statler

    Statler F1 World Champ

    Jun 7, 2011
    17,389
    Similarly, it's aluminium everywhere else but here.

    Al you MIN ee um.

    But we win wars so zee and aluminum.

    And inches and feet and pounds.
     

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