proper pronunciation of "mecanum"

[Ether]

We all know the proper spelling is mecanum (play laugh track here).


But what is the proper pronunciation?

Is it

meh CAN um

or

MEK uh num

??

And, most important of all, what is your authoritative source?

[Johnbot]

I've always wondered, too.
http://translate.google.com/#en/es/mecanum
says it like MEK-un-um.
I've always say "me C an-num," (Somewhere between one and two, with the C enunciated clearly in the first syllable, but the end syllable just being um) and I will continue to pronounce it that way regardless of what is deemed correct. :)

[XaulZan11]

I think this may be Ether's first post that contains no math/science (most of which I struggle to understand...). ;)

But, still very worthwhile. I pronounce it the first way, but I have no idea which way is correct. I'm intersted in seeing the consensus.

[JamesCH95]

Going with google translate: http://translate.google.com/#sv/en/mecanum

Since Mecanum wheels were invented by a Swede I ran google translate and got: mee - SAH - noom (similar to JohnBot's preference)

In English I got: MEK - a - noom (MEK - uh - num)

[Jay O'Donnell]

I believe MEK-un-um is correct, but if you say either most people will know what you're talking about.

[Taylor]

Andy Baker says "meh-KAN-um" so that's good enough for me.

[EricVanWyk]

I think "Andy's" pronunciation is "correct", but mE-KAN-um is more fun to say, because it sounds like a caveman threatening to preserve "them" in cylinders of tin.

[dyanoshak]

I think "Andy's" pronunciation is "correct", but mE-KAN-um is more fun to say, because it sounds like a caveman threatening to preserve "them" in cylinders of tin.

Do you have any more information on the prehistoric members of the ausTIN CANs? We're trying to keep a record of alumni...

[cgmv123]

"MEK-num" No middle syllable.

[Andrew Schreiber]

gärbij ;)

[CalTran]

It might just come down to a preference thing. I say it MEK-uh-num. Our head mentor says the Mek-CAN-um. I hear a lot of people pronounce it as Andrew does. :rolleyes:

[coalhot]

Is it

meh CAN um

or

MEK uh num

??

And, most important of all, what is your authoritative source?




It's funny, I've always used the second pronunciation until this year, where I got corrected by Craig from 357 (the dude that made the Jester Drive rollers). Not sure if he's right though...

EDIT: someone make a poll of how you pronounce "mecanum". I'd be interested in seeing the results.

[waialua359]

It's funny, I've always used the second pronunciation until this year, where I got corrected by Craig from 357 (the dude that made the Jester Drive rollers). Not sure if he's right though...

EDIT: someone make a poll of how you pronounce "mecanum". I'd be interested in seeing the results.

Well given that 357 was part of the group that developed it, I'd say that has some merit....right?

[lorem3k]

I pronounce it like I forgot how the word "mechanical" ended.

[Calvin Hartley]

I pronounce it meh-kan-um. Same as lorem3k.

I pronounce it like I forgot how the word "mechanical" ended.
(P.S. I really like how you described that! :D )

[IanW]

gärbij ;)

I was thinking MEH-kan-um, as they are pretty meh.

[Owen Makin]

Our team pronounces it "meh-kay-num"

[JesseK]

When Andy Baker says a word, it is the proper pronunciation from that day forward.

(this one really belongs in the Andy Baker thread :D)

[Qbot2640]

We say: meh CAN um...but a nearby team we've collaborated with says meh cah num (as if there is no emphasis).

When we get this solved, can we move on to "GIF" or "JIF" for the filetype .gif?

[Taylor]

When we get this solved, can we move on to "GIF" or "JIF" for the filetype .gif?

Pronounce it like the peanut butter. Otherwise it sounds like gift.

How far should we take this? Discuss the T in OFTEN? How about WAGO?

[Andrew Schreiber]

Pronounce it like the peanut butter. Otherwise it sounds like gift.

How far should we take this? Discuss the T in OFTEN? How about WAGO?

Tomato/Tomato


Wait... that doesn't work.

[EricVanWyk]

How about WAGO?

v-aw-go

[ToddF]

I worked at Carnegie Mellon University's Field Robotics Center (as a student) in 1991/1992. At that time they were developing a mobile robot called the Tessellator, to service the ceramic tiles on the space shuttle. This was the first application I ever saw of mecanum wheels.

http://www.frc.ri.cmu.edu/projects/tessellator/tessellator.shtml

I remained fascinated by the technology, so much so that when I ended up in the Robotics and Remote Inspection group at the Idaho National Engineering Lab, I used mecanum wheels on a miniature drive train I developed for remote inspection in confined spaces.

http://mysite.verizon.net/t.ferrante/MMWV/MMWV.HTM

I designed and built what I believe to be the smallest wheels of this type made until that date, maybe even until now.

Both at CMU and at the INEL, the people who worked with these wheels pronounced it MEK-uh-num.

[Ether]

Both at CMU and at the INEL, the people who worked with these wheels pronounced it MEK-uh-num.

Thank you. That settles it. MEK-uh-num it is.

[ToddF]

On the other hand, if you say "meh CAN um" everyone knows what you mean, too...

:)

[Littleboy]

I call them "paper weights". Thats about all they are good for.

Actually, I pronounce them meh-CAN-num.

[inkspell4]

Anyone else notice on the lunch with andy video for today #10 he noted this thread

[pfreivald]

I call them "paper weights". Thats about all they are good for.

Bah. The proper pronunciation for useful mecanum is "octocanum". :)

[lcoreyl]

Thank you. That settles it. MEK-uh-num it is.




Now a swedish pronunciation site has confirmed (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJ5SDmRpTyU) this.