• Cryptic Fawn@lemmy.dbzer0.com
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    19
    ·
    edit-2
    1 year ago

    He didn’t tell anyone it was pronounced jif till a great many years later, after most people were pronouncing it gif.

    He lost the right to dictate how everyone else pronounces it for that reason alone. So fuck him. =)

    Edit: It was made in 1987 and he waited till 2013. Lmao, he lost that fight long ago.

    • Varyk@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      13
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      I understand that some people feel very strongly about pronunciations. So be angry about the correct pronunciation, heck, don’t use the correct pronunciation, who cares?

      But Wilhite made it, so he gets to name it, regardless of the popularity of later pronunciation debates that largely take place in a forum where you can’t actually pronounce the word because we’re all typing. It’s pretty funny.

      • bustrpoindextr@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        8
        ·
        1 year ago

        Gerrymandering was named after Elbridge Gerry, but his name is pronounced Gary: https://youtu.be/Rp0Qz19nlG4

        Popularity of pronunciation does actually matter, regardless of origin.

        There are plenty of pronunciations that have changed from the original and are now generally accepted as correct. Here are some examples

        https://linguisticus.wordpress.com/2014/12/07/10-words-whose-pronunciation-has-changed-over-time/

        Anywho, if you have any recommendations for birthday jifts for kids, lemme know

      • Cryptic Fawn@lemmy.dbzer0.com
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        5
        ·
        edit-2
        1 year ago

        So be angry about the correct pronunciation

        I’m not angry about the correct pronunciation, since I and most people already do pronounce it correctly. As Gif, not Jif.

        But Wilhite made it, so he gets to name it

        You’re right about one thing; he named it. But he doesn’t get to dictate how it’s pronounced many years later after the majority had already been pronouncing it a certain way. If he wanted it called Jif, then he should have said so from the very beginning. Why wait till 2013? Doesn’t that seem odd to you? Dude likely doesn’t even care and only declared that in 2013 to start an argument over it.

        regardless of the popularity of later pronunciation

        I’m sorry but the popularity of how a word is pronounced does in fact actually matter. Plus, the English language is changing all the time and how we pronounce certain words also changes. People will say what feels most natural to them.

        that largely take place in a forum where you can’t actually pronounce the word because we’re all typing. It’s pretty funny.

        I’ve used the word Gif in real life, multiple times. Everyone I know pronounces it the same way. 🤷🏻‍♀️

        • Varyk@sh.itjust.works
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          3
          ·
          1 year ago

          However, you want to pronounce it is fine, but it doesn’t make it correct.

          I don’t think there’s a time limit on announcing the way a creator prefers to pronounce the name of his creation.

          It became an internet sensation, people asked him about the correct way to pronounce guf, he said how he prefers to pronounce it.

          I prefer to pronounce it that way as well, as the original pronunciation by the creator. That’s more correct to me, but nobody’s forcing you to pronounce it any particular way.

          • Cryptic Fawn@lemmy.dbzer0.com
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            3
            ·
            1 year ago

            but it doesn’t make it correct

            Except it does. This isn’t the first time to happen with the English language, and it won’t be the last.

            I don’t think there’s a time limit on announcing the way a creator prefers to pronounce the name of his creation.

            Sure, but the most popular way to pronounce a word wins, and it isn’t his way.

            people asked him about the correct way to pronounce gif, he specified how he prefers to pronounce it.

            Yea I’m aware, I read all about it back in 2013 as well.

            That’s more correct to me, but nobody’s forcing you to pronounce it any particular way.

            That’s nice. Now you know why the majority continue to pronounce it as Gif and not Jif, because it’s the most popular and comfortable way to pronounce it. The creators opinion on the matter is inconsequential.

            Cheers!

            • Varyk@sh.itjust.works
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              2
              ·
              edit-2
              1 year ago

              This is interesting, you’re kind of proving yourself wrong. If “The most popular way to pronounce a word wins”, as you say, then why are you and others still so ardently supportive of one pronunciation(deemed correct by the inventor) or the other(deemed incorrect by the inventor)? Seems like if you had won, there wouldn’t be any debate.

              It just sounds like you’re making the case that coba-bola should be the new name for Coca-Cola. That can definitely be your name for it, and you can try to convince as many people as you want of a name that you prefer. But it doesn’t change the original and correct name of that beverage.

              Sure, follow the majority. While majority rule often turns out to be incorrect and it doesn’t seem like the right way for me to make decisions or judgments, it’s certainly your prerogative to pronounced jif the same way many other people do.

              For you, a hard g is more popular and comfortable, and that’s great. Doesn’t make it correct, but it’s still great.

              • Cryptic Fawn@lemmy.dbzer0.com
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                2
                ·
                1 year ago

                I got to be honest with you, but I’m already over this topic, so I’m not even going to read your latest response to me. There really isn’t anything new either of us have to share; you pronounce it one way, the majority pronounce it another. The end. Have a good evening/night/morning/etc.

              • bustrpoindextr@lemmy.world
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                2
                ·
                1 year ago

                For you, a hard g is more popular and comfortable, and that’s great. Doesn’t make it correct, but it’s still great.

                Actually that’s exactly what makes it correct, language is democratic. The more popular way to convey ideas is the correct way, as that is the entire purpose of language (to convey ideas to other individuals) and that’s why language changes over time.

                • Varyk@sh.itjust.works
                  link
                  fedilink
                  English
                  arrow-up
                  1
                  ·
                  1 year ago

                  The more popular way to convey ideas is the more popular way, not the correct way. 🍆 💦

                  • bustrpoindextr@lemmy.world
                    link
                    fedilink
                    English
                    arrow-up
                    1
                    ·
                    1 year ago

                    I love how you just have a compulsive need to be wrong at this point, it’s something you don’t see everyday.

    • Hyperi0n@lemmy.film
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      6
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      Most people pronounced it correctly. Hard G was mocked on many tech sites and sites like 4chan.

      • Cryptic Fawn@lemmy.dbzer0.com
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        6
        ·
        1 year ago

        You mean “jif” was openly mocked, and still is for the most part. Anyone referring to it as Jif is typically viewed as pretentious.

        But you are correct about people pronouncing it correctly; as Gif. =)