Your pet peeve, technical or otherwise.

[SiliconWizard]

Although the history of ABS is complex and had quite a few different attempts and implementations over the early years, I'm almost certain the exact term "ABS" was coined in Germany and thus the "B" stood for "Blockier", as Ranayna mentioned. Of course, after that it got translated in various ways, but I'm almost certain the origin of this term (not per se of the concept) is german.

[flipper]

People constantly appending “… obviously” after a statement.

If said statement is obvious, why say it, and to ALSO state it’s obvious is another tier of redundancy.

[TimFox]

Although the history of ABS is complex and had quite a few different attempts and implementations over the early years, I'm almost certain the exact term "ABS" was coined in Germany and thus the "B" stood for "Blockier", as Ranayna mentioned. Of course, after that it got translated in various ways, but I'm almost certain the origin of this term (not per se of the concept) is german.

Yes, important early work on the concept was done in Germany, and the German abbreviation may well be for "Blockier".
In the English-speaking world, however, ABS is an abbreviation for "anti-lock braking system".

[mfro]

Although the history of ABS is complex and had quite a few different attempts and implementations over the early years, I'm almost certain the exact term "ABS" was coined in Germany and thus the "B" stood for "Blockier", as Ranayna mentioned. Of course, after that it got translated in various ways, but I'm almost certain the origin of this term (not per se of the concept) is german.

Correct.

[SteveThackery]

So far as motoring is concerned, if he's wrong then the entire world is too.

"Antiblockiersystem" is the true origin of the abbreviation ABS.

[PlainName]

Although the history of ABS is complex and had quite a few different attempts and implementations over the early years, I'm almost certain the exact term "ABS" was coined in Germany and thus the "B" stood for "Blockier", as Ranayna mentioned. Of course, after that it got translated in various ways, but I'm almost certain the origin of this term (not per se of the concept) is german.

Correct.

But note that even Bosch, when they are telling us the history, define ABS as 'anti-lock braking system'.

[PlainName]

So far as motoring is concerned, if he's wrong then the entire world is too.

"Antiblockiersystem" is the true origin of the abbreviation ABS.

Are you saying that at the start they called it antiblockiersystem and someone thought "hey, we can shorten that to ABS" and that was then used (and is still used) instead of the long form?

[mfro]

Although the history of ABS is complex and had quite a few different attempts and implementations over the early years, I'm almost certain the exact term "ABS" was coined in Germany and thus the "B" stood for "Blockier", as Ranayna mentioned. Of course, after that it got translated in various ways, but I'm almost certain the origin of this term (not per se of the concept) is german.

Correct.

But note that even Bosch, when they are telling us the history, define ABS as 'anti-lock braking system'.

They do. On their English page. Officialy (i.e. in German), it's 'Antiblockiersystem'.

[SteveThackery]

Are you saying that at the start they called it antiblockiersystem and someone thought "hey, we can shorten that to ABS" and that was then used (and is still used) instead of the long form?

Yes, exactly that.

[Kjelt]

Is this not just a translation issue?
If I ask google translate what the dutch "wiel blokkeren" is in english it says wheel lock, not block.

The other way round it translates as a lock on the wheel.
And last a blocking wheel is the wiel blokkeren again.

[calzap]

To add to the confusion, in English, wheel blocking usually means applying something externally, like chocks, to non-turning wheels to keep them from moving.  Has nothing to do directly with braking.

Sometimes abbreviations get carried into a language even though they may not apply to all the words in that language. French abbreviation is ABS, which stands for anti-blocage des roues.

In English, EKG is still used commonly in cardiology.

[PlainName]

Although the history of ABS is complex and had quite a few different attempts and implementations over the early years, I'm almost certain the exact term "ABS" was coined in Germany and thus the "B" stood for "Blockier", as Ranayna mentioned. Of course, after that it got translated in various ways, but I'm almost certain the origin of this term (not per se of the concept) is german.

Correct.

But note that even Bosch, when they are telling us the history, define ABS as 'anti-lock braking system'.

They do. On their English page. Officialy (i.e. in German), it's 'Antiblockiersystem'.

Doesn't that show that in English ABS is 'anti-lock brake system', whilst in another language it is whatever the local idiom is? And since we - and presumably Steve's nonplussed mechanic - are using English...

[SteveThackery]

Doesn't that show that in English ABS is 'anti-lock brake system', whilst in another language it is whatever the local idiom is? And since we - and presumably Steve's nonplussed mechanic - are using English...

Well, not really, because it was Bosch Germany who first coined the term "ABS", so they get to say what it stands for.

[PlainName]

Doesn't that show that in English ABS is 'anti-lock brake system', whilst in another language it is whatever the local idiom is? And since we - and presumably Steve's nonplussed mechanic - are using English...

Well, not really, because it was Bosch Germany who first coined the term "ABS", so they get to say what it stands for.

In German. And Bosch themselves say it is anti-lock brake system in English. Or do they only get to decide when they agree with you?

[TimFox]

Presumably, Bosch think it's a good idea to use English to sell products to English-speaking customers.

[SiliconWizard]

Presumably, Bosch think it's a good idea to use English to sell products to English-speaking customers.

Yes, obviously. I don't even get what the fuss is about here. Yes ABS was originally coined as Anti-Blockier System by Bosch, and yes, they themselves (and many other after that) translated it to "Anti-lock Braking System" in English. Which makes sense to keep the same initialism, which admittedly sounded pretty cool in almost all languages (at least the ones with latin alphabets).

You can also find some patents calling the concept "anti-skid" rather than "anti-lock".

[PlainName]

Presumably, Bosch think it's a good idea to use English to sell products to English-speaking customers.

You might think so, but there are several local (UK) brands here that have foreign names to make the punter think they are buying foreign (thus better) kit.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_branding?useskin=vector

[Analog Kid]

Presumably, Bosch think it's a good idea to use English to sell products to English-speaking customers.

And there it is. (Warning: tangent ahead).

What, Tim: are you an American or not?
You are, so why are you using that crazy British wrong-way-around way of addressing singular objects ("Bosch" in this case) with a plural participle ("think")?

We 'Merkins say "Bosch thinks it's a good idea ...". Which makes total sense (to us, anyhow), as Bosch is a single entity, not a collection of plural parts.

Unless that was just a typo ...

Anyhow. Another of my pet peeves (one I cannot prove).

[PlainName]

You peeves would come across much better if you weren't so hypocritical by mangling nearly all of your posts. You're actually a very bad example for language purity.

(ding!)

You're not here for the hunting. You are here merely to stir stuff up - anything will do so long as you cause an argument.

[TimFox]

I was politely responding to a British poster:  corporations are considered to be plural subjects in British grammar.

[RJSV]

   But, PlainName;  don't forget that anyone typing with AutoComplete can easily get blindsided, by having AutoComplete going back, making changes.   Changes like from 'of' to 'if'...just out of nowhere, almost.
   AutoComplete also messes with singular and plural expressions.

[PlainName]

There is no apparent allowance for auto-anything, nor for typos or simple brainfade. Which wouldn't be so bad if he then didn't do much worse. It's that hypocrisy that I'm calling out, not errors per se.

[flipper]

Another one:

People who say an acronym, then explain the acronym right after. Why not just say the full words?

Example: “… run by a BMS, or Building Management System”

People LOVE sounding “clever” by confusing people and then immediately clarifying the thing THEY made confusing.

[Analog Kid]

You peeves would come across much better if you weren't so hypocritical by mangling nearly all of your posts. You're actually a very bad example for language purity.

How exactly are my posts mangled? If they are, I want to rectify that. But I don't see it.
Also, I'm really not a language purist. Certainly not like the French who have a gov't. branch that approves (and I'm guessing disapproves) changes to the French language. It's just that some things annoy me more than others.

Also, I want it known here that I never rely on autocomplete for my postings. (And I don't post from a 'phone but from a proper computer. You know, with a real keyboard and all.)

[vk6zgo]

Presumably, Bosch think it's a good idea to use English to sell products to English-speaking customers.

You might think so, but there are several local (UK) brands here that have foreign names to make the punter think they are buying foreign (thus better) kit.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_branding?useskin=vector

It even mentions my favorite french softdrink, "Pschitt!.