Re: Why does the meaning (and spelling) of words change?

On Mon, Apr 19, 2004 at 06:08:36PM +0100, Joe wrote:
> [The word] 'programme' is in normal, commonwealth English usage.
> 'Computer programme' is as wrong as 'floppy disc'.
Just so.  I still haven't figured out why the usual spellings are
"floppy disk" and "hard disk" but "compact disc" and
"digital versatile disc".  True, "floppy disk" could come from the fact
that it's short for "floppy diskette" and there's no such spelling as
"discette", but that doesn't explain hard disks, or the choice of
"disc" (which is not the usual spelling in GAE) for optical media.

> And 'color' makes even less sense than 'colour'
What sort of "sense" are you referring to here?  The spelling "colour"
is measurably less efficient, but otherwise I see nothing to recommend
one over the other.  I certainly don't see any basis for claiming that
either one is less sensical.

> (though I think the perfect spelling would be 'culler')
Nope.  Aside from the fact that it's already a word meaning "someone who
culls", as you noted, it doesn't sound like <color>.  My 'lect has a
four-way distinction among <caller> = <collar> = [k_halr\=],
<color> = [k_hVlr\=], <culler> = [k_hUlr\=], and <cooler> = [k_hulr\=].
Not sure how you would represent [Vl], but "ull" ain't it, 'cause that
spells [Ul]. :)

-Mark

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