:: When acroyms attack ::

Wednesday, July 14, 2004

Mobile phones function using different radio protocols with acronyms like AMPS, CDMA, GSM, GPRS, WCDMA, TDMA, iDEN, EDGE, UMTS, CDMA2000, and so on. Today, I found out that these are called either "Three Letter Acronyms" or "Extended Three Letter Acronyms". What's really awesome is that the industry then abbreviates these titles, resulting in TLA or eTLA - acronyms referring to the type of acronym referring to the protocol in question (GSM is a TLA, WCDMA is an eTLA). Sadly, there is no apposite communication protocol called META.

Posted by morland @ 05:32 PM

:: Comments ::

Though interesting, and quite funny, your posting contains a slight error. Not all of the abbreviations in your list are acronyms. Words that are pronounced by saying the abbreviated letters as a word, such as "AIDS" and "NAFTA" are acronyms. Words pronounced by saying the letters, in succession, such as "HIV" or "GPRS" are NOT acronyms, they are merely "initialisms," or sets of abbreviated letters that become words. You must actually pronounce the letters "as a word" for them to comprise an acronym.

"eTLA" is not an acronym, unless, of course, you are pronouncing it "ettla," like some el salvadorean's dog.

"FUPA." Now there's an acronym...

Posted by: Graham on July 19, 2004 01:20 PM

I see, though it seems the distinction is not commonly enforced: http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=19980825.

Posted by: morland on July 19, 2004 05:19 PM

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