Rowter or Rooter? (Merged)

amd

OMG - what have I started!!!!! I understand the root of the word (ahem) - last few posts are very interesting (and amusing). However, I agree with gizmoleeds - absolutement! When in France I may ask directions for 'Paree', however at home I wouldn't dream of saying it like that.

What it boils down to for me is how it sounds - and frankly I can't stand this guy's whiny voice. I can't have it be 'rooter' cos it's rhymes with 'hooter'!!! Just sounds plain daft to me - not very technical at all!!!

Think I'll just have to go on saying it as I like.....and ignoring the dissenters!. A small voice in a big world....:rolleyes:

seanparkin

Seems a little odd that you're going to mispronounce a word just because you don't like the voice of somebody you know pronouncing it properly.

I'm sure he says a lot of words, including most of the English language, but that doesn't mean you have to pronounce those incorrectly as well.

Rooter? Rhymes with Hooter?

Well you'll never be in IT then, however will you pronounce 'Hex'? 'Howx'?

wolfman

I've always said "rooh-ter". Actually I've barely heard "raow-ter" used during my 4 years in tech.

It's an americanism, and generally in Europe it's pronounced the former of the two. I think it's where the English "route" packets and the americans "rout" packets. Generally you can form a noun from a verb by sticking "er" on the end. I've always said "rooht" (route) hence saying "rooht-er".

Anyway, in this country is a "raow-ter" not a power tool for cutting wood???

amd

Seanparkin, it would appear I'm not alone in (possibly) mispronouncing router, and being happy with it. I have no problem pronouncing my English otherwise, although those south of the border may agree to differ!

I'll try to work on pronouncing it 'rooter' to please you - but only when he's not in earshot!

Thank all for the replies!

fbrj

amd wrote:

OMG - what have I started!!!!!

......a light-hearted Saturday morning thread - perfect!!

My earlier posts were supposed to reflect that and not to be taken too seriously...........although I am definitely a "rooter"

Rex_Mundi

Well you'll never be in IT then

ROFLMAO.....Isn't this getting a bit silly now? If a company turned down the best candidate for a job because of the way they pronounce router, wouldn't you think that they were completely nuts?

Look around the net. All around the world in english speaking countries, both methods of pronounciation are used. Does it really matter how you say it, as long as everyone around you knows what you are on about?

gizmoleeds

wolfman wrote:

Anyway, in this country is a "raow-ter" not a power tool for cutting wood???

Yes, and is anyone here going to say that type of router should be pronounced rooter as well?

seanparkin wrote:

It has nothing to do with evolution of the language (which is often caused by mass mispronunciation anyway), it is just plain mispronunciation.

That's exacly what I'm saying - it is a mass mispronounciation of the word router, which has been going on long enough now to be regarded as a tiny example of evolution of the English language.

seanparkin

Seems from this post that more people are pronouncing it 'rooter' I'm afraid!

Evolved? No

xueta

gizmoleeds wrote:

Yes, and is anyone here going to say that type of router should be pronounced rooter as well?

That's exacly what I'm saying - it is a mass mispronounciation of the word router, which has been going on long enough now to be regarded as a tiny example of evolution of the English language.

Router in IT is derived from the word route (meaning to channel or direct)
Router in Woodworking is derived from the word rout (to groove)
... so no mispronunciation there!

CrazyChemist_2

I've always said it as 'rooter' and always will - I've only recently heard a friend refer to it as a 'rowter'. But definitely most people I know refer to it as a 'rooter'.