Monday, June 30, 2008

Data

I was talking to a friend the other day and I said the word "data".

"It's data. The way you say it is annoying." She said to me.

I had flashbacks to my first time on an Ivy League campus where I was corrected on how I spoke several times. No, I did not go to an Ivy League school but the students there felt the need to correct my pronuniciation of several words.

Feeling very self-conscious, because my friends are very smart and bright people and I am not so much, I looked up the pronunciation of the word data. I used dictionary dot com, does anyone actually own a dictionary any more? I wanted to make sure I was saying it the correct way.

Both ways of pronouncing it are correct.

How do you pronounce data?

Day-Ta? or Datta?...

...and which way is annoying?

50 comments:

Dorion Rose said...

Day-ta, . . .'Datta' is annoying.
"Was a matta with the datta"

Dawn said...

I say "Datta" and find "Day-ta" annoying! LOL.

OhTheJoys said...

I say them both. To ***L with those people.

Giddy said...

I say day-ta. Like the character on Star Trek. One could argue that we're all wrong, as the Latin pronunciation would be dah-tah!

My issue with the word is that I use it as a plural, eg, "These data are evidence that....." and that gets some eyebrow raises except in my field of work (medical research).

Anonymous said...

I'm amphibious. My brain seems to randomly determine how I will pronounce the word. However, if I do have to use the word multiples times in a single conversation, my brain seems to be consistent.

All that's really important is that I don't pronounce water as wudder.

Anonymous said...

It's day-ta. You should hear me and one of my co-workers talking. During the course of a conversation, each of us says the word several times. Only she says dat-ta. It's almost like a competition, but neither of us ever mentions it.

So you never told us . . . how do you say it?

Patience said...

Day-ta. And the singular is Day-tum.

Anonymous said...

I say day-ta, and datta is mildly annoying, except now that I think about it, I have sometimes said datta-base.

What is (are) REALLY annoying, though, not to mention RUDE, is (are) adults who correct other adults' pronunciation (kind spouses, in private, excepted).

Unknown said...

Dayta. This happens to be a word I use a LOT in my work, and datta doesn't really annoy me either. I knew both ways were correct. It's not like Cray-on or Crown.

The Middle Child said...

I say it Day-ta, but I don't think the other way is annoying.

Anonymous said...

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/data

K said...

I say day-ta. tomay-to, tomah-to, mater...who cares? ;o)

Teri said...

I prounounce it "datta".

I hate when people correct you all the time. Who cares? Unless they are saying a word so totally wrong you feel the need to stop any embarrasment.

Anonymous said...

I think you are gay-ta.

Ern said...

Day-ta. Trust me, I'm a scientist.

Anonymous said...

I was thinking about Star Trek, too. Someone called Data Datta. When asked what the difference was, he replied, "One is my name. The other is not."

That's about the only time I can think of that it would matter.

Dollymama said...

Day-ta. Nevah dattah.

Mindie said...

I say datta. Dayta sounds snobby. Geez...after reading your comments, I feel like I'm an uneducated redneck. Definitely the odd one. Lol.

sari said...

Day-ta like Next Generation.

I'm assuming she thought *that* was the annoying way, right? Because she's not a Trekkie. It would explain a lot.

:-)

Rachael said...

I say day-ta. But I don't find it particularly annoying either way. I do think that if data is coming up in my every day conversation, something needs to be done about that.

eclectic said...

Susie speaks for me in regards to this mayta. I mean, matta. Erm... matter.

Unknown said...

Dayta.

I'm to the point now where either way I hear it, I'll repeat it in my head the other way.

There's a road we travel on frequently called "Rakow Road." I still do not know if it's "Raycow" or "Rahcow" Road.

Tari said...

Really who cares. I'm sure I've said it both ways but probably more oftan than not "datta"
That's funny that your friend was so annoyed by it.
Now that I think about it I haven't said that word in a very long time, Aww the joys of being a SAHM.

April said...

I don't say either. I say info and computer thingie. But I hate it when people say Nev-ahda.

And I fluctuate with Root and Rowt.

And how rude of her to correct you. What is she, your mother? The pronunciation police? Tell her to stuff it.

kittenpie said...

I say day-ta, but am not annoyed by datta, the way I am be some alternate pronunciations.

Anonymous said...

People who correct other's are annoying. It is bad manners.

~moe~ said...

To make a different reference...I always say datta, because day-ta reminds me of the kid on The Goonies with the backpack and the bad inventions. The kids on my block would always play "the Goonies" and because there were 3 girls on the block but only 2 in the film, I had to play Data because I had a backpack and the other two didn't. I hated that.

k e r r y said...

I say day-ta - and am not annoyed when people say da-ta. I used to get annoyed when our computer guy at work said "data are" I am sure he was right but it sounded so odd to me and he was an ass so it was even more annoying to hear him say it - or anything for that matter.

Anonymous said...

Datta = annoying

JP said...

Day-ta unless you are from the UK. I say it almost daily, because I'm a Day-ta Conversion Specialist. It's like lavatory, no?

Anonymous said...

just for the record...

a) bill said "datta."

b) i am perfectly aware that both pronounciations are correct. no speech correction occurred. i simply told him his way of saying it was annoying. and it is. highly.

Anonymous said...

I say it both ways, depending on the company I'm keeping. But then, I say a lot of funny things being a Canadian here in the US.

bew said...

if i have to imput it, then its datta

but the person doing the entering is called the Dayta specialist....

i'm just saying....laughs

sari said...

this is like the couple/few thing, or where you put the sheets on the bed for your kid either facing the kid or facing the door, right? you can't win. ;-)

Anonymous said...

When I am reading it, it is day-ta. After reading, and tucking it into the briefcase, it becomes datta. I will give my co-worker the dayta to read. She will return the datta to me. I read a lot of Disney dayta this week. It is now the datta at the bottom of the suitcase. Neither one upsets me. It is what it is, either way...information. momo9

The Maid said...

That word needs to go the way of the dinosaur. I mean...info is where it is at. I'm with April.

:) You are so funny.

This topic may be a little gay-ta. As some chicken butt anonymous commenter said, but you are not gay-ta...you are sir William of Poop and Boogies. We only wish we were the blog genius that you are!

The Maid

The Maid

Deb said...

Day-ta. Definitely Day-ta.

jaacs said...

Hmm...I read your post and was saying datta in my mind so I guess that must be what I normally say. I'm also a SAHM so this definitely isnt a word I use often.

I'm with April, though. As someone who grew up in Nevada...it is EXTREMELY annoying to me when I hear people say Ne-vaw-duh instead of Ne-va-duh. You can say you are pronouncing it the spanish way all you want...but ne-vaw-duh still wouldn't be correct. What really gets me is when a story is based there and they still say it wrong. The correct pronunciation of a state is the way the people who live their pronounce it.

LOL. Obviously, I feel strongly about that. I only say something if someone does it over and over and over again. Otherwise, I really find it weird for someone to correct your pronunciation. I guess it depends on if they are a good friend who wouldnt make you feel embarrassed. :)

Fetcher said...

I have to go with Day-tah, that's how I've always pronounced it.

Except for that year in seventh grade computer lab where the old bag teaching the class assured everyone that the correct pronunciation of the word was "Dat-Ah" and would correct it each time we mispronounced. The brainwashing wore off in eight grade and I'm glad to say I've fully recovered. TO be honest, since I work in I.T. - I've heard it both ways over the past 9 years, so I've gotten used to it.

Charity Donovan said...

Tomato...Tomata...Missoureee...Missourah...Who gives a rats behind. WHAT is annoying, is having your pronunciation corrected. Unless you are 5...I find it to be totally unnecessary. For the love of all that is good in the world, if a person is speaking English & getting their point across...SHUT YOUR SELF RIGHTEOUS PIE HOLE ANNOYING PEOPLE! By the way, it's Day-ta. lol!

Anonymous said...

Oooo.. I say them both. Sometimes 2 different ways in one sentence. Don't get me started on Nuclear...I go both ways with that too.

Jenny said...

"Day-ta" is the droid on Star Trek, and "datta" is what's stored on the computer.

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Anonymous said...

I pronounce it data... data is annoying.

LilSass said...

OMG!!!! I ONLY say day-ta and datta is sooooo annoying!!!

Anonymous said...

To the person above who mentioned "nuclear":

The big difference is that 'data' does have two legitimate pronunciations. Nuclear has one correct way, and another that was a mispronunciation by a US president that became a commonly believed "correct" pronunciation. It is not.

Nuclear. break it out. Nu-cle-ar. That is it. "Nu-kyoo-lar" doesn't even make sense.

Brian said...

Day-tuh.

That's the way they said it on the Goonies, which trumps any dictionary.

Cat said...

It's DAY-TA. Next you'll ask if its indices or indexes.

Unknown said...

I usually say day-ta but have been known to say datta once in a while. Both are cool in my book.

me said...

i read your blog and love it...found you through sue and charlotte, anyway...
i work for a nonprofit and i am a grants and data (datta) manager but i always analyze data (day-ta). ii am not sure why i pronounce them different but i do...and i thought you should know.
:)
congrats on the pregnancy!