Author Topic: How to pronounce XOR...really?  (Read 16302 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline JohnnyMalariaTopic starter

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 1154
  • Country: us
    • Enlighten Scientific LLC
How to pronounce XOR...really?
« on: March 02, 2021, 04:08:56 pm »
OK - for the third time in my 6th decade on this planet, I have come across something that shatters my expectation that "surely, everybody does that" or whatever.

So what are the first and second?

1. Some people really can visualize things in their minds. Apparently most people. I can't. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphantasia
2. Some people stay seated to wipe, others stand. OK, that's where not having a mind's eye to visualize that is really useful.

The third?

3. Some people pronounce XOR as 'zor'. WTF?

XOR is the exclusive OR operator in C programming, yet another bitwise logical operator. And to answer your most pressing question, you pronounce XOR like “zor.” It’s the perfect evil name from bad science fiction.

Further searching reveals that the author is not unique in this.

What say you?
 
The following users thanked this post: helius

Offline Sal Ammoniac

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 1764
  • Country: us
Re: How to pronounce XOR...really?
« Reply #1 on: March 02, 2021, 04:14:47 pm »
Ecks Or
"That's not even wrong" -- Wolfgang Pauli
 
The following users thanked this post: Psi, ludzinc, rob.manderson, GlennSprigg

Offline Bud

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 7276
  • Country: ca
Re: How to pronounce XOR...really?
« Reply #2 on: March 02, 2021, 04:25:18 pm »
The two variants i'v seen :

eks-o-ar  ( pronounced as 3 sepatate sounds)
ckzor    ( one short word)
Facebook-free life and Rigol-free shack.
 

Offline MK14

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 4987
  • Country: gb
Re: How to pronounce XOR...really?
« Reply #3 on: March 02, 2021, 04:35:35 pm »
https://forvo.com/word/xor/

Yes, 'EX..OR', not zor.

It seems the pronunciation of 'zor', is made by people who generally know little of what an XOR gate/function is.
« Last Edit: March 02, 2021, 04:40:53 pm by MK14 »
 
The following users thanked this post: RJSV

Offline fourfathom

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 2004
  • Country: us
Re: How to pronounce XOR...really?
« Reply #4 on: March 02, 2021, 04:37:21 pm »
I pronounce XOR like this: EX(clusive)OR.  The "clusive" is silent. 

"Zor" is silly, unless you are paying by the syllable.
We'll search out every place a sick, twisted, solitary misfit might run to! -- I'll start with Radio Shack.
 
The following users thanked this post: tooki

Online TimFox

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 8998
  • Country: us
  • Retired, now restoring antique test equipment
Re: How to pronounce XOR...really?
« Reply #5 on: March 02, 2021, 04:44:43 pm »
The Latin letter “X” is pronounced quite differently in various languages that use the Latin alphabet naturally, as well as in those who transliterate their native spellings into the Latin alphabet.  English, the great mongrel language, has several common pronunciations of “X”, due to loan-words from other languages, especially Greek.
 

Offline CJay

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 4136
  • Country: gb
Re: How to pronounce XOR...really?
« Reply #6 on: March 02, 2021, 04:47:12 pm »
Ex Or, surely nobody who knows what it is could pronounce it any other way?
 
The following users thanked this post: tooki

Offline JohnnyMalariaTopic starter

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 1154
  • Country: us
    • Enlighten Scientific LLC
Re: How to pronounce XOR...really?
« Reply #7 on: March 02, 2021, 04:49:02 pm »
The Latin letter “X” is pronounced quite differently in various languages that use the Latin alphabet naturally, as well as in those who transliterate their native spellings into the Latin alphabet.  English, the great mongrel language, has several common pronunciations of “X”, due to loan-words from other languages, especially Greek.

So, are you "TimFoz"? :)
 

Online TimFox

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 8998
  • Country: us
  • Retired, now restoring antique test equipment
Re: How to pronounce XOR...really?
« Reply #8 on: March 02, 2021, 04:53:29 pm »
No. “Z” is never pronounced as “eks”.

“Thou whoreson zed, thou unnecessary letter”. (King Lear, Act 2, Scene 2).

By the way, I always say “ex or” since it is unambiguous.
« Last Edit: March 02, 2021, 04:57:14 pm by TimFox »
 

Offline JohnnyMalariaTopic starter

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 1154
  • Country: us
    • Enlighten Scientific LLC
Re: How to pronounce XOR...really?
« Reply #9 on: March 02, 2021, 04:57:30 pm »
No. “Z” is never pronounced as “eks”.
“Thou whoreson zed, thou unnecessary letter”. (King Lear, Act 2, Scene 2).

I meant should we pronounce "TimFox" as "TimFoz".

BTW, "whoreson" - what a word.
 

Offline Cubdriver

  • Supporter
  • ****
  • Posts: 4201
  • Country: us
  • Nixie addict
    • Photos of electronic gear
Re: How to pronounce XOR...really?
« Reply #10 on: March 02, 2021, 05:44:44 pm »
Like most here, Ex-Or, seeing as it stands for Exclusive OR.  I agree that those who pronounce it 'zor' likely don't know what it actually means.   :palm:

-Pat
If it jams, force it.  If it breaks, you needed a new one anyway...
 
The following users thanked this post: tooki, Halcyon

Offline Bassman59

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 2501
  • Country: us
  • Yes, I do this for a living
Re: How to pronounce XOR...really?
« Reply #11 on: March 02, 2021, 07:42:19 pm »
I pronounce XOR like this: EX(clusive)OR.  The "clusive" is silent. 

"Zor" is silly, unless you are paying by the syllable.

I can see someone who is an indigenous Mexican who speaks Spanish and zero background in electronics or logic pronouncing it as "zhor."

Xochitl would like a word with you.

And I live in Tuxon.
 

Offline fourfathom

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 2004
  • Country: us
Re: How to pronounce XOR...really?
« Reply #12 on: March 02, 2021, 08:19:09 pm »
I pronounce XOR like this: EX(clusive)OR.  The "clusive" is silent. 

"Zor" is silly, unless you are paying by the syllable.

I can see someone who is an indigenous Mexican who speaks Spanish and zero background in electronics or logic pronouncing it as "zhor."

Xochitl would like a word with you.

And I live in Tuxon.

And my grandson plays a xylophone.  Sure, if you are speaking in another language with different pronunciation conventions, then say it however you like.  Somewhere there's probably some language equivalent that sounds nothing like "EXOR", and I doubt if I could pronounce it.  But in the English language I think that pronouncing it "zor" is wrong and tells us that you probably don't know what it means.

I Have Spoken.
We'll search out every place a sick, twisted, solitary misfit might run to! -- I'll start with Radio Shack.
 

Offline harerod

  • Frequent Contributor
  • **
  • Posts: 483
  • Country: de
  • ee - digital & analog
    • My services:
Re: How to pronounce XOR...really?
« Reply #13 on: March 02, 2021, 08:34:05 pm »
Quote from: Bassman59 on Today at 08:42:19 pm
. . .

And I live in Tuxon.

. . .

German native speaker here. You pronounse zat
>[tʌksˈɔn], right? :-DD

The letter X may be pronounced in three ways in the English language: [gs], [ks] and even [z]. So, a person who doesn't know the origin "exclusive or" might settle on [z], as in xylophone.
So - who wants to say [ˈɪksˈoɾ]?  ;)
« Last Edit: March 02, 2021, 08:49:37 pm by harerod »
 

Online TimFox

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 8998
  • Country: us
  • Retired, now restoring antique test equipment
Re: How to pronounce XOR...really?
« Reply #14 on: March 02, 2021, 09:09:34 pm »
Xylophone comes from the Greek ξύλον = xylon for wood, and other similar transliterations (through Latin) include xenophobic and xerography (the Greeks were ahead of their time).  Exclude (and its other forms) enters English directly from Latin sometime around 1400.  I believe that in Latin there is no initial "X" (except for words borrowed from Greek), but "ex" is a common prefix.
 

Offline jpanhalt

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 4000
  • Country: us
Re: How to pronounce XOR...really?
« Reply #15 on: March 02, 2021, 09:44:10 pm »
You forgot the American corporation Xerox.

Unfortunately none of those example are relevant to the question on the  table.   It is "ex" as in exclusive and assigned by context.
 

Offline T3sl4co1l

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 22436
  • Country: us
  • Expert, Analog Electronics, PCB Layout, EMC
    • Seven Transistor Labs
Re: How to pronounce XOR...really?
« Reply #16 on: March 02, 2021, 09:47:42 pm »
"Ecks or", but shout outs to bisqwit who pronounces it "Ξor" ("cksor"), no leading vowel at all.

And I spell it that way, in the intent that "xi" is pronounced "cksi", essentially the reverse of the English 'X'.  At least, that's how one physics professor taught it. ;D

Tim
Seven Transistor Labs, LLC
Electronic design, from concept to prototype.
Bringing a project to life?  Send me a message!
 

Online TimFox

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 8998
  • Country: us
  • Retired, now restoring antique test equipment
Re: How to pronounce XOR...really?
« Reply #17 on: March 02, 2021, 09:57:37 pm »
You forgot the American corporation Xerox.

Unfortunately none of those example are relevant to the question on the  table.   It is "ex" as in exclusive and assigned by context.

"Xerox" is a neologism from the original word "xerography".  The original Greek form is ξηρός (xērós, “dry”).
"Exclusive" comes from the root word "exclude".
QED.
« Last Edit: March 02, 2021, 10:01:43 pm by TimFox »
 

Offline wally2q

  • Newbie
  • Posts: 6
  • Country: ca
Re: How to pronounce XOR...really?
« Reply #18 on: March 02, 2021, 10:00:26 pm »
Funny....

First of all, XOR is not a word by itself like Xerox or Xylophone.

XOR is an acronym or "label" depicting a logic function..... even the word OR in this context is not just a plain english word.  It is a label for another logic function.
Since it's not a word, you pronounce it in pieces that make up the acronym.

Just like the acronym SOP is not pronounced "sohp".. but rather S-Oh-P.  This is pronounced ecks-OR
There are many other symbols that are pronounced differently... some aren't even in the english dictionary.  The capital omega greek letter is pronounced "Ohm(s)".  Or greek capital Sigma is not a "sideways-M"... it's "Sum"  How da heck do you get Ohm, or Sum from a squiggly symbol?... it's a symbol.
Another example: @ = "at" - from shorthand...
There are many other acronyms and symbols.  How about Xtal... is it eckstal?... nope... it's crystal... how about  PNP... try to pronounce that like it's a normal word... LMAO!

So, OR, or XOR are also not normal english words...

And you pronounce it how it's supposed to be pronounced - and not like it's some sort of "english word"

cheers!
« Last Edit: March 02, 2021, 10:05:42 pm by wally2q »
 

Online TimFox

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 8998
  • Country: us
  • Retired, now restoring antique test equipment
Re: How to pronounce XOR...really?
« Reply #19 on: March 02, 2021, 10:05:07 pm »
In the phrase "XOR gate", this can be parsed as "XOR" (adjective) modifying "gate" (noun).  Of course, this is short for "exclusive-or gate".
To be pedantic, an acronym is an abbreviation that can be pronounced as a word (laser, NASA, snafu, etc.).  Not all abbreviations can be pronounced easily, and are usually pronounced as their constituent letters or letter-combinations (such as "ex or" or FBI).   Since the modern trend in language is to eliminate useful distinctions, some dictionaries admit abbreviations as acronyms, to no good purpose, since we already have the word "abbreviation" and a true acronym is a special form of abbreviation.
« Last Edit: March 02, 2021, 10:16:00 pm by TimFox »
 

Offline MK14

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 4987
  • Country: gb
Re: How to pronounce XOR...really?
« Reply #20 on: March 02, 2021, 10:10:49 pm »
Some processor instruction sets, call (XOR) 'EOR', i.e. the EOR instruction.

E.g. This (arm) one here:
https://heyrick.eu/armwiki/EOR

Quote
EOR will perform a logical, bitwise, Exclusive OR between the two operands
 
The following users thanked this post: helius

Offline wally2q

  • Newbie
  • Posts: 6
  • Country: ca
Re: How to pronounce XOR...really?
« Reply #21 on: March 02, 2021, 10:15:00 pm »
some languages do not have the letter X in their alphabet... and as such, when writing text, books, manuals, or even interpreters and compilers for processors - they revert to alternatives that can be spelled using that language's keyboard.

yes in the modern world any symbol can be pulled from a character map application, but that is very tedious when you are on a roll cranking out code at some fast pace...
 

Offline JohnnyMalariaTopic starter

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 1154
  • Country: us
    • Enlighten Scientific LLC
Re: How to pronounce XOR...really?
« Reply #22 on: March 02, 2021, 10:16:13 pm »
In the phrase "XOR gate", this can be parsed as "XOR" (adjective) modifying "gate" (noun).  Of course, this is short for "exclusive-or gate".
To be pedantic, an acronym is an abbreviation that can be pronounced as a word (laser, NASA, snafu, etc.).  Not all abbreviations can be pronounced easily, and are usually pronounced as their constituent letters or letter-combinations (such as "ex or".

Oh, don't get me started on the BBC and their insanity of turning common abbreviations that are pronounced as words into mixed case. e.g., NASA -> Nasa, NATO -> Nato. And using phrases such as "Brazil covid", "Japan asteroid probe", "England man" instead of "Brazilian covid", "Japanese asteroid probe", "English man".
 

Offline JohnnyMalariaTopic starter

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 1154
  • Country: us
    • Enlighten Scientific LLC
Re: How to pronounce XOR...really?
« Reply #23 on: March 02, 2021, 10:17:41 pm »
Some processor instruction sets, call (XOR) 'EOR', i.e. the EOR instruction.

E.g. This (arm) one here:
https://heyrick.eu/armwiki/EOR

Quote
EOR will perform a logical, bitwise, Exclusive OR between the two operands

That's a neat trick for a donkey.
 
The following users thanked this post: Mr.B, tooki, MK14

Online TimFox

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 8998
  • Country: us
  • Retired, now restoring antique test equipment
Re: How to pronounce XOR...really?
« Reply #24 on: March 02, 2021, 10:23:54 pm »
I’m aware that some European languages that use the Latin alphabet do not use X in native words, but do their typewriters and keyboards omit the letter?  Croatian uses the Latin alphabet, without Q, W, and X, but they probably show up in mathematical and technical usage.  I have seen European-manufacture typewriters where W and Z are in different locations than on the modern QWERTY standard, but they all contain the 26 letters used in English.
« Last Edit: March 02, 2021, 10:48:40 pm by TimFox »
 


Share me

Digg  Facebook  SlashDot  Delicious  Technorati  Twitter  Google  Yahoo
Smf