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Indeed. Quoting "The Name of the Game", the very first chapter of Knuth's "The TeXbook": "Insiders pronounce the $\chi$ of TeX as a Greek chi, not as an `x', so
by drfuchs 9y ago
Indeed. Quoting "The Name of the Game", the very first chapter of Knuth's "The TeXbook": "Insiders pronounce the $\chi$ of TeX as a Greek chi, not as an `x', so that TeX rhymes with the word blecchhh. It's the `ch' sound in Scottish words like loch or German words like ach; it's a Spanish `j' and a Russian `kh'. When you say it correctly to your computer, the terminal may become slightly moist."
- maze-le 9y agoInteresting bit: The Idea of the name came from the Greek word τέχνη (/ˈtɛxnɛ/), wich can be translated as art, skill and craft. A combination that captures the purpose of the program very well.
- umanwizard 9y agoA russian "kh" ? That sound is spelled "х" in Russian
- drfuchs 9y ago"X" is the transliteration of the Cyrillic character in question as per the 1995 version of ISO/R 9; but the 1968 version that was in effect when The TeXbook was first published has it as "kh". See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_9 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_9 You may want to send Knuth a note that he should update this for the next printing; perhaps you'll get one of his rewards.