ENGLISH – 24
CURIOUS ARE SOME PRACTICES
For the day’s topic, I intend surveying the territory of spelling for
just two words – Mesmerise and Metabolise which are infrequent in use though
frequently debated for the way the two words should be spelt. As
ever unanimity over the preference of ‘S’ or ‘Z’ is just ‘non –existent as in
MESMERIZE /MESMERISE and as in METABOLIZE/METABOLISE. One may be genuinely concerned as to if these alone
are the terms causing concern. Honestly, there are any number of words that
seem to cross swords between the patterns widely categorized [or is it
categorised?] as British / American English.
Consequently, different countries adopt one or the other form –perhaps having
been under some ‘conditioning’ by the ENGLISH-English or the American English.
With the world divided over the preferred practice, it should not haunt us
anymore; but those of us using computer for day-to-day communication –the self
appointed editor-the computer steps in to underscore in red –all terms not in conformity
with the American tradition. Though there is option to set the language mode,
on and off the system turns autonomous enforcing its ‘line of thought’. At best
the user can plead “IGNORE’ and never for once tell “Do what I say”. To see the
screen with liberal red underscores at times destroys the person’s pride and
composure over ‘spelling’, a judgment that poses a threat from the inanimate.
True, we are used to this unbridled interference ; yet a challenge is a
challenge- an unfailing irritant .
By and large the fitment of “Z”
in a word is an American attitude to spell a word. Let us heave a sigh of
relief, that the Americans have not outright thrown “S” from the alphabet
series. Lest, the computers should dictate us to spell “MEZMERIZE”/ “MEAZLEZ”
for MEASLES and zo on [sorry-so on ].
Extensive labour seems to have gone into studying the spelling practice
for the words under consideration- MESMERIZE / METABOLIZE.
In fact, several nations are
presented for both the forms of spelling and the general average % thereof.
Readers may use the information with the assurance that both versions are in
use and thus , none is wrong .
Just read on
MESMERIZING
MESMERISING
USA % 95
5
UK 42
58
INDIA 78
22
PHILLIPINES 95
5
CANADA 91 9
AUSTRALIA 37
63
IRELAND 39 61
NEW ZEALAND 46
54
JAMAICA 100 -0-
METABOLIZE
METABOLISE
USA % 98
2
UK 39
61
INDIA 64 36
PHILLIPINES 96
4
CANADA 95
5
AUSTRALIA 38 62
IRELAND 41
59
NEW ZEALAND 35
65
Such is the general trend in
spelling the words chosen for the day.
The source of information “SAPLING”
IS GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGED.
Prof. K. Raman
Price
ReplyDeletePrize
Meaning differs