What is the correct pronunciation of i18n? [closed]
Is i18n pronounced internationalization or eye-eighteen-n or both?
For background on i18n, quoting Wikipedia :
In computing, internationalization and localization (AmE) or internationalisation and localisation (BrE) are means of adapting computer software to different languages, regional peculiarities and technical requirements of a target locale. [...] The terms are frequently abbreviated to the numeronyms i18n (where 18 stands for the number of letters between the first i and the last n in the word internationalization, a usage coined at Digital Equipment Corporation in the 1970s or 1980s) and L10n for localization, due to the length of the words.
Solution 1:
Pronouncing it as "eye-eighteen-n" sounds ugly to me, though I guess (as earlier comment says) if your co-workers have a office standard better to go with the flow.
However here are some reasons to say "internationalization" not "eye-eighteen-n" ...
- Wikipedia, says [...] 18 stands for the number of letters between the first i and the last n in the word “internationalization,”. I'd say the term is derived for writing not speaking.
- Eye-eighteen-n implies a verb pronounced eye-eighteen - but saying "Your task for next week is to eye-eighteen our website" sounds ridiculous, and in written looks silly : "[...] is to i18 our website". In writing, i18 simply makes no sense.
- Lectures like https://youtu.be/iBBkCA1M-mc use i18n in text but internationalisation when speaking, at least in first few minutes that I watched.
- Personally I hate pointless jargon 😉