Question 8.8. How should I pronounce Linux ?
This is a matter of religious debate, of course !If you want to hear Linus himself say how he pronounces it download english.au or swedish.au from ftp.funet.fi (in /pub/OS/Linux/PEOPLE/Linus/SillySounds). If you have a soundcard or the PC-speaker audio driver you can hear them by typing cat english.au >/dev/audio
The difference isn't in the pronunciation of Linux but in the language Linus uses to say hello. The English version was parodied very well by Jin Choi as "Hi, my name is Leenoos Torvahlds and I pronounce Leenooks as Leenooks."For the benefit of those of you who don't have the equipment or inclination: Linus pronounces Linux approximately as Leenus, where the ee is as in feet but rather shorter and the u is like a much shorter version of the French eu sound in peur (pronouncing it as the u in put is probably passable).
When speaking English I pronounce it Lie-nucks (u as in bucket) --- this is an anglicised pronunciation based on the analogy with Linus' name, which in English is usually pronounced Lie-nus (u as in put). It is of course quite acceptable and common to modify the pronunciation of a proper noun when it changes languages.
I think I can safely say that the pronunciation Linnucks (short i as in pit, short u as in bucket) is wrong in English, as it is not the original Swedish pronunciation, not a sensible direct anglicisation of it, and not based on the anglicised version of Linus' name.
When pronouncing Linux the way Linus does,the definitive local representation of Linux would be Lee-nucks where Lee is pronounced with a long ee sound, and definitely not Lie-nucks, where Lie is pronounced Lie as in a lie. nucks is pronounced to rhyme with sucks.
Here are the sound files for your ears, MS Windows sound players and the MS driver for the pc speaker are available locally here.
It appears that the Linux Journal agrees on this pronounciation. A copy of their little piece follows...
Question 1.6. How should I pronounce
Linux ?
.... For the benefit of those of you who don't have the equipment or inclination: Linus pronounces Linux approximately as Leenus, where the ee is as in feet but rather shorter and the u is like a much shorter version of the French eu sound in peur (pronouncing it as the u in put is probably passable).
Many English-speaking people pronounce it Lih-nucks, rhyming with the English word cynics. This is the pronounciation Linux Journal uses.
Path:
qmw!server3.netnews.ja.net!baron.netcom.net.uk!netcom.net.uk!cpk-news-hub1.bbnplanet.com!cam-news-feed5.bbnplanet.com!news.bbnplanet.com!news01.li.net!dvanpope
From: dvanpope@newshost.li.net (VanPopering)
Newsgroups: cern.linux
Subject: pronounce LINUX correctly !
Date: 23 Jan 1998 17:34:23 GMT
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How to pronounce LINUX correctly (and not sound like
a jerk) with PROOF.
Right --> L-eye-nix
Wrong --> Lih-nix
Proof:
1. If a vowel (a,e,I,o,u) is followed by ONE
consonant (n) is
pronounced as a LONG vowel (eye)
2. If a vowel (a,e,I,o,u) is followed by two
consonants, it
is pronounced as a SHORT vowel (ih)
Linux would be pronounced as L-ih-nix if it were
spelled Linnix.
Linux IS pronounced as L-EYE-NIX since there is only
one N.
Some of you have downloaded the sound bite or Linus
Torvalds pronouncing
Linux. In his country, they also follow the SAME
rules for pronunciation
as we do. Thus letter I is pronounced as a LONG vowel
EE.
Linus says LEE-NOOKS.
So, you have 3 choices:
1. Say it as he does: LEE-Nooks.
2. Follow the SAME rules but apply the English
version: L-EYE-NIX
3. Be an idot and say: Lih-nix.
The educated people of the world say L-EYE-NIX.
--
David van Popering
dvanpope@suffolk.lib.ny.us