YES!!! The "I'm So Happy!" thread - 2011

[Lesley Cox]

As far as I have always known, a ton (tun) is 2240 (? can't remember how many) lbs whereas a tonne (to rhyme with John) is a metric ton, i.e. 1000 kilograms.

[Lesley Cox]

Are you planning a trip there Dave? Nepal I mean, not Glasgow.

[Anthony Darby]

As far as I have always known, a ton (tun) is 2240 (? can't remember how many) lbs whereas a tonne (to rhyme with John) is a metric ton, i.e. 1000 kilograms.

They are both pronounced the same. The Oxford English dictionary puts 'tʌn' i.e. tun for the pronunciation of both words. I was just giving it as an example. There are bound to be regional differences, like the pronunciation of cicada (sick ah dah as opposed to sick ay da) and geyser (geezer as opposed to g eye zer) which go with the territory.

[David Nicholson]

Knowing nothing whatsoever about politics as applied to financial matters, I have wondered recently whether, had the European countries stuck with their original currencies, would the whole present debacle cum meltdown have happened? If Greece still had the drachma (even lacking David's), France the franc, etc etc, would it all be different now. GB, having refused to join the Eurozone, seems, to the outside observer at least, to be reasonably stable. So far.

A simple "yes" or "no" would do in reply.

Yes                        and No

[Gerry Webster]

Knowing nothing whatsoever about politics as applied to financial matters, I have wondered recently whether, had the European countries stuck with their original currencies, would the whole present debacle cum meltdown have happened? If Greece still had the drachma (even lacking David's), France the franc, etc etc, would it all be different now. GB, having refused to join the Eurozone, seems, to the outside observer at least, to be reasonably stable. So far.

A simple "yes" or "no" would do in reply.

Yes.

David got in before me so I'll add - and  No

[Anthony Darby]

That's a definite maybe then?

[Hoy]

As far as I have always known, a ton (tun) is 2240 (? can't remember how many) lbs whereas a tonne (to rhyme with John) is a metric ton, i.e. 1000 kilograms.

They are both pronounced the same. The Oxford English dictionary puts 'tʌn' i.e. tun for the pronunciation of both words. I was just giving it as an example. There are bound to be regional differences, like the pronunciation of cicada (sick ah dah as opposed to sick ay da) and geyser (geezer as opposed to g eye zer) which go with the territory.

Why don't to start speaking Norwegian? It is much easier to pronounce (and understand). You pronounce it (like Maori seemingly) as it is written (.. with some exceptions of course).

And we still use our kroner and not Euros

[Gerry Webster]

That's a definite maybe then?

As far as I am concerned, no - Lesley seemed to be posing two distinct questions.

[Lesley Cox]

In NZ tonne is usually pronounced as John, mainly because they are two different measurements after all. I have little faith in the Oxford dictionary nowadays as they find split infinitives acceptable. I don't.

[FrazerHenderson]

The link below provides an example of how to pronounce tonne correctly:
http://www.forvo.com/word/tonne/

hope it's useful.

[Lesley Cox]

Not really, A) because it doesn't say how to pronounce ton and B) if ton is pronounced as tun, it doesn't agree with me.

From now on I shall pronounce tonne as splOuf.

[Anthony Darby]

French word pronounced the French way. 

[Martinr]

I have little faith in the Oxford dictionary nowadays as they find split infinitives acceptable. I don't.

But Lesley, Star Trek wouldn't have been Star Trek without the split infinitive.......To go boldly....... just doesn't work 

[Lesley Cox]

  They could have tried Boldly to go.... but I wasn't a fan anyway. Maybe for that very reason.

[Anthony Darby]

Star Trek was one of three programmes that filled the hall of residence TV lounge when I was a student. TOTP and Tom and Jerry were the other two. My dictionaries pre-date when the OED decided to say "to split infinitives and beyond".