Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: Notesfiles $Revision: 1.6.2.14 $; site umn-cs.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!ihnp4!stolaf!umn-cs!herndon From: herndon@umn-cs.UUCP Newsgroups: net.flame Subject: Poor English (here too) Message-ID: <4800002@umn-cs.UUCP> Date: Mon, 4-Mar-85 01:59:00 EST Article-I.D.: umn-cs.4800002 Posted: Mon Mar 4 01:59:00 1985 Date-Received: Wed, 6-Mar-85 04:28:55 EST Lines: 20 Nf-ID: #N:umn-cs:4800002:000:763 Nf-From: umn-cs!herndon Mar 4 00:59:00 1985 [Nothing interesting here - just hit "n"] Why is it that the "word" ORIENTATE seems so popular in computer circles? The verb is ORIENT!! In a similar light, why are signals in computer hardware so often described as "being in synchronism"? Do people often sing in harmonism? It strikes me as singularly appropriate that computer jocks are incapable of using human languages with any facility. They can not write; neither can they spell. Any analyses? Anyhow, considering that persons acquiring degrees in computer related fields will probably spend at least as much time writing ENGLISH as computer programs, I find it disheartening to find so little emphasis on communications skills in CS departments. Alas, Babble-on! Robert Herndon