English Morphology Week 13: Acronym and Initialism

Summary

In this video, the presenter delves into the differences between acronyms and initialisms, explaining that acronyms are abbreviations formed from initial letters but are pronounced as words (like 'laser'), while initialisms are pronounced by individual letters (like 'FBI'). Various examples of both are provided, such as NATO, UNICEF, and ITB, to illustrate the distinctions. The discussion emphasizes the importance of differentiating the two terms and clarifies common misunderstandings. The video concludes by teasing a future exploration of onomatopoeia, maintaining a lively and engaging tone throughout.

Takeaways

• 😀 Acronyms are abbreviations formed from the initial letters of a phrase, pronounced as a single word.
• 😀 Initialisms are similar to acronyms but are pronounced letter by letter, not as a word.
• 😀 Acronyms like 'laser' or 'NATO' have become common words in the English language.
• 😀 Initialisms such as 'FBI' or 'ITB' are not treated as words and are pronounced by stating each letter individually.
• 😀 Acronyms are often used in daily language, and once they are widely recognized, they may become full words.
• 😀 Examples of acronyms include 'UNICEF' (United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund) and 'TV' (Television).
• 😀 Examples of initialisms include 'FBI' (Federal Bureau of Investigation) and 'ITB' (Institut Teknologi Bandung).
• 😀 Acronyms like 'NATO' are pronounced as a single word, while initialisms like 'FBI' are spelled out.
• 😀 Acronyms and initialisms are both ways to shorten phrases, but they differ in how they are pronounced and used.
• 😀 This course distinguishes between acronyms and initialisms, despite some literature treating them as the same concept.

Q & A

What is the difference between an acronym and an initialism?

An acronym is formed by taking the initial letters of a phrase and pronouncing them as a single word (e.g., 'laser' for 'Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation'). An initialism, on the other hand, is formed by the initial letters of a phrase but is pronounced by stating each letter individually (e.g., 'ITB' for 'Bandung Institute of Technology').

Can you provide an example of an acronym?

An example of an acronym is 'laser', which stands for 'Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation'. It is pronounced as one word, not as individual letters.

What is an example of an initialism from the transcript?

An example of an initialism is 'ITB' for 'Bandung Institute of Technology'. It is pronounced as 'I-T-B', not as a single word.

Why are acronyms considered as a new word?

Acronyms are considered new words because, over time, they become so familiar that they are used as a regular part of language, like the word 'laser', which was originally an acronym but is now commonly understood as a single word.

What is the process to form an acronym?

An acronym is formed by taking the initial letters of each word in a phrase and combining them into a single word, which is then pronounced as one word. For example, 'laser' is an acronym formed from the phrase 'Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation'.

How do initialisms differ in pronunciation from acronyms?

Initialisms are pronounced letter by letter, whereas acronyms are pronounced as a single word. For example, 'FB' for 'Facebook' is an initialism because it's pronounced 'F-B', while 'UNICEF' is an acronym because it is pronounced as one word.

What is the acronym for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization?

The acronym for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is 'NATO'. It is pronounced as one word, 'Nay-toe'.

Why might the term 'initialism' be used instead of 'acronym' for certain abbreviations?

The term 'initialism' is used when the abbreviation is read as individual letters, as opposed to acronyms which are read as a single word. For example, 'FB' (Facebook) is an initialism because it is pronounced 'F-B', while 'UNICEF' is an acronym because it is pronounced as one word.

Can acronyms sometimes become accepted as regular words?

Yes, acronyms can sometimes become accepted as regular words in everyday language. For example, 'laser' was once an acronym but is now commonly used as a word on its own.

What is an example of an acronym in the Indonesian context provided in the transcript?

An example of an acronym in the Indonesian context is 'IPI', which stands for 'Indonesian Education Institute'.