proper pronunciation of "mecanum"
 

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?

Re: proper pronunciation of "mecanum"
 

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. :)

Re: proper pronunciation of "mecanum"
 

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.

Re: proper pronunciation of "mecanum"
 

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)

Re: proper pronunciation of "mecanum"
 

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

Re: proper pronunciation of "mecanum"
 

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

Re: proper pronunciation of "mecanum"
 

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.

Re: proper pronunciation of "mecanum"
 

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

Re: proper pronunciation of "mecanum"
 

"MEK-num" No middle syllable.

Re: proper pronunciation of "mecanum"
 

gärbij ;)

Re: proper pronunciation of "mecanum"
 

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:

Re: proper pronunciation of "mecanum"
 

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.

Re: proper pronunciation of "mecanum"
 

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

Re: proper pronunciation of "mecanum"
 

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

Re: proper pronunciation of "mecanum"
 

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

(P.S. I really like how you described that! :D )

Re: proper pronunciation of "mecanum"
 

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

Re: proper pronunciation of "mecanum"
 

Our team pronounces it "meh-kay-num"

Re: proper pronunciation of "mecanum"
 

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)

Re: proper pronunciation of "mecanum"
 

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?

Re: proper pronunciation of "mecanum"
 

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?

Re: proper pronunciation of "mecanum"
 

Tomato/Tomato


Wait... that doesn't work.

Re: proper pronunciation of "mecanum"
 

v-aw-go

Re: proper pronunciation of "mecanum"
 

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/t...sellator.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.

Re: proper pronunciation of "mecanum"
 

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

Re: proper pronunciation of "mecanum"
 

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

:)

Re: proper pronunciation of "mecanum"
 

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

Actually, I pronounce them meh-CAN-num.

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

Re: proper pronunciation of "mecanum"
 

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

Re: proper pronunciation of "mecanum"
 

Now a swedish pronunciation site has confirmed this.