Initials

A initials is a whole of letter S initial forming a Mot being used as Abréviation.

If initials can decide like an ordinary word, like UNESCO , then it is also a Acronyme. In the other cases, one spells it: the SNCF. Notice that in the last case, one can write the initials with not S after the letters, which one will not do in the first case. But in the everyday usage, the tendency is with the suppression of the points for all the initials.

Certain current initials involve the formation of derivatives, for example: member of the C.G.T. (member of the CGT), cégépien (nobody continuing of the studies in a CEGEP or CÉGEP), eremist (profit of RMI). Certain initials are also written such as one pronounces them, becoming thus common nouns (and thus agree in kind and of number), for example: a Bédé, bédés, a Cédérom, cédéroms, one pédégé, one pédégée.

The initials are invariable in French and do not take the mark of plural (contrary to the Anglo-Saxon use), for example: data base, CD, HLM.

Print

The use recommended to the Canada ( Guide of the writer ) and in France is of Typographie R the initials in capital letters, without point of abbreviation.

Initials of the other languages

Certain initials of languages other than French become sometimes so popular that they are taken again such which in French without for all this the French-speaking people know the significance of it. Generally, they are English initials like MSN, SMS, IP, PC and sometimes the original pronunciation is also preserved like FBI, MTV, BBC, VIP, MIT (these two last being sometimes spelled in French). Among the other languages one finds sometimes German (especially in the automobile field) like ABS, GTI.

Plural of the initials: a Anglicism?

Certain initials, in particular in the roleplays, are probably written with an S in the plural under the influence of English.

For example:

  • DMs, Dungeon masters - MJs for MJ, main of play
  • NPCs, non-player characters - PNJs for PNJ, characters not-players
  • MMORPGs, massively multiplayer online ranges - MMORPGs for MMORPG (Various initials of English origin get busy such as they are in French, but the use of plural to English is justified by no reference book. Moreover, the Recommandations of the orthography are in favor of the generalized use of plural to the Frenchwoman for the loans.), Online game massively multi-players
  • RTS, real-time strategy ranges (singular and plural) - STRS for STR, Strategy game in real-time

Notice that the site of the S employed with English in initials and its use preferably with X is not coherent in French, contrary with English. One writes JDRs, but not JxDRs; PNJs, but not PsNJs and STRS, even if no word in these initials takes the mark of plural.

In English, one makes hear the mark of the plural of the initials while speaking. The practice is thus to also write it after an abbreviation or a number. For example, in French, the reference books criticize the years 70s for the Seventies . In English, one will write the 70s .

Redundant initials and acronyms

It frequently happens that one of the shortened words of the initials or the acronym is taken again to indicate the nature of the initials and that this last is employed as being the name of the object or the indicated concept. That very often arrives in the anglophone countries, where one named this behavior CLOSE-CROPPED syndrom , syndrome SAR , SAR meaning " syndrome of the acronym redondant". Examples:
  • protocol IP ( I nternet P rotocol ): the protocol protocol Internet
  • virus HIV ( H uman I mmunodeficiency V irus ): the virus Virus of the human immunodéficience
  • format pdf ( P ortable D ocument F ormat ): the format of portable document
  • a screen LCD ( L iquid C ristal D isplay ): a screen Screen with liquid crystals

Initials and humor

  • Using the convention of pronunciation, Marcel Duchamp entitled his table copied of the Mona Lisa: L.H.O.O.Q (It hot with the bottom) .
  • One can also derive initials towards another interpretation (Rétroacronymie): for example, for Anne Roumanoff, RTT Repose All the time means.

For the people: initial

When the name of a person is shortened by the first letters of its name S and Prénom S, one speaks about initial rather than about initials.

Authors formed to them Pseudonyme according to their initiales : for example Pef (Pierre Elie Ferrier) or Hergé (derivative of R.G., is G.R. with back, for Georges Remi).

In addition, the initial ones of certain personalities were so largely used that they make it possible to identify them clearly and without ambiguity. It is for example the case of:

  • JC : Jesus-Christ

Canada

France

the United States

the United Kingdom

  • BP: Baden-Powell

Case of Adolf Hitler

In the symbolic system Nazi, Adolf Hitler is represented by the number 18. Indeed, this one corresponds to its initial AH, when one replaces each of the two letters by his position in the alphabet. Since the fall of the Nazism, for the néonazis, it is a discrete sign of recognition. Thus a very violent group considered in Great Britain is called “Combat 18”.

See too

Related articles

External bonds

  • Repertory of initials (minister of education main road).
  • Initials and abbreviations (School inspectorate of the Hautes-Pyrénées).
  • Sigles.net (Dictionary of initials and acronyms).
  • Other sources of specialized repertories (minister of education main road). does
  • What that want to say?

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