Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2009 May 3

Language desk
< May 2 << Apr | May | Jun >> May 4 >
Welcome to the Wikipedia Language Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is an archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages.


May 3

edit

What is cardex or kardex?

edit

At one of my previous jobs as a secretary, I kept employees' records (attendance, salary -- any change in status) on a sort of card file. We called it a "kardex" (or "cardex") record. I want to add it to my resume, but I can't find either word in any dictionary. Is either a real word, and what's the correct spelling? THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.152.165.101 (talk) 16:33, 3 May 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Was it anything like a rolodex? Seegoon (talk) 16:38, 3 May 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Both Cardex and Kardex are registered trademarks - see Cardex, Kardex and Kardex. I doubt that's what you mean. "Cardex" is also sometimes used as a contraction of "card index" - this is an example and this is another one (which uses virtual "cards"). This image while called "cardex.jpg" is of a generic card index. I suggest you just call it a "card index". Tonywalton Talk 16:46, 3 May 2009 (UTC)[reply]
The thing that's important for your resumé is that you maintained employees' attendance, salary, and employment records, and not specifically that they were kept in a card index. So you should leave Cardex off, and just say what records you originated and maintained. - Nunh-huh 00:38, 5 May 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Hmmm ... every time I see that word, I am reminded of the one-time football team in the National Football League. — Michael J 21:37, 4 May 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Please do elucidate (I'm a few thousand miles too far East to have the first idea what you mean ☺ ). Tonywalton Talk 21:55, 4 May 2009 (UTC) Ah, got it. I thought "football team" was a single wikilink above. Tonywalton Talk 21:58, 4 May 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, Americans don't call football 'football'. That is a name for a game they have which uses helmets and body armour. Similar to rugby, but not involving people getting their teeth smashed.--KageTora (영호 (影虎)) (talk) 00:23, 5 May 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Foreign "u" in French

edit

In unassimilated foreign words with "u", like "Jaipur" or "Kuala Lumpur", would French speakers generally pronounce those with /u/ or with /y/? --Lazar Taxon (talk) 22:02, 3 May 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Instinctively, a native French speaker would pronounce the sound /y/ if entirely unfamiliar with the word or its origin. If that persons knows the word is foreign and likely originates from one of the languages where the sound is pronounced /u/, he may use that pronunciation, but it's not certain. For example, the Italian-origin car make "Bugatti" is commonly prononced with the /y/ sound in French. --Xuxl (talk) 15:16, 4 May 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Maybe there is variation from one word to another, in the same way that there is variation with English-derived words ending in ing (shampooing [ʃɑ̃pwɛ̃], footing [futiŋ]) and also those ending in er (bulldozer [buldozœr], pull-over [pylɔvɛr]). (I tried to put the tildes above the vocoids.) -- Wavelength (talk) 16:34, 4 May 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Depends on your English. In en_GB both bulldozer and pullover sound to me to end with a schwa. Tonywalton Talk 22:00, 4 May 2009 (UTC)[reply]
That depends on where in GB your en_GB comes from - they don't end with a schwa in Devon or Scotland! —Angr 06:19, 5 May 2009 (UTC)[reply]
I don't think it depends on your English, because Wavelength is talking about the pronunciation in French. --Maltelauridsbrigge (talk) 11:29, 5 May 2009 (UTC)[reply]
D'accord. Tonywalton Talk 21:07, 5 May 2009 (UTC)[reply]
See Category:Wikipedians by language, Category:User fr, Category:Wikipedians by location, Category:Wikipedians by profession, Category:Wikipedians by ethnicity and nationality, French language#External links, French phonology, fr:Accueil, fr:Wikipédia:Oracle, fr:Prononciation du français, http://www.radio-locator.com/, http://www.forvo.com/. -- Wavelength (talk) 00:38, 6 May 2009 (UTC)[reply]