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I find that particularly amusing because Parabola is exactly how we call satellite dishes here in Italy. It’s technically called Antenna Parabolica but plenty o

I find that particularly amusing because Parabola is exactly how we call satellite dishes here in Italy. It’s technically called Antenna Parabolica but plenty of people simply call it Parabola (at least here up north)

mytailorisrich 5y ago
Exactly the same in French, for what it's worth.
- BrandoElFollito 5y ago
  I asked my teen children what "parabole" means to them and they had no idea that such antennas exist (or rather existed... at least for the generak population) :) They know about disquettes, though.
mumblemumble 5y ago
Technically in English you'd only use "satellite dish" to describe a parabolic antenna that's being used for satellite communications. In practice, though, I don't think I've ever seen that happen outside of a technical context.
- jpindar 5y ago
  What else does anyone use the term satellite dish to refer to?
  - mumblemumble 5y ago
    Parabolic antennas that are used for terrestrial communication.
  - kadoban 5y ago
    Any antenna that's parabolic in shape that isn't designed/used to communicate with a satellite is just called a satellite dish is common usage, but technically really shouldn't be.
    - saltcured 5y ago
      It's funny, I can't recall every hearing anybody say "satellite dish" for a terrestrial antenna in my years in metro and suburban California. I've heard "reflector dish", "dish antenna", "microwave dish", or "directional antenna" (which could also apply to YAGI and other non-dish structures). I wonder if it is regional or has other socioeconomic factors? Actual satellite dishes weren't common structures when I was growing up, outside either a sports bar with satellite TV feeds or more commonly large dishes on industrial, military, or scientific facilities. Other, smaller directional antenna were more commonly seen on radio towers etc.
      - mumblemumble 5y ago
        Probably? One of the subtexts of this article and the ensuing conversation is that English has an absolutely mind-smashing amount of variability in usage. In my general area, just a few hundred kilometers separates two groups of people who are frequently confused by each others' usage of the word "party store." Expanding a hyponym's meaning to encompass that of its hypernym is so common that I'm not even sure it requires special explanation. I've got some family members whose favorite kind of coke is Pepsi.
fidelramos 5y ago
We say "parabólica" in Spain.
- YeGoblynQueenne 5y ago
  That too (like "periferia") comes to Latinate languages through Latin from Greek. Seems all you nice folk think of Greeks as... posh? Must be all the philosophers :P
tengbretson 5y ago
Meanwhile in America, you will often hear a satellite dish be shortened (incorrectly) to just being called a "satellite." You'll even hear the word "satellite" mis-applied to parabolic antennas that are not directed at an actual satellite!

mytailorisrich 5y ago

Exactly the same in French, for what it's worth.

BrandoElFollito 5y ago
I asked my teen children what "parabole" means to them and they had no idea that such antennas exist (or rather existed... at least for the generak population) :) They know about disquettes, though.

mumblemumble 5y ago

Technically in English you'd only use "satellite dish" to describe a parabolic antenna that's being used for satellite communications. In practice, though, I don't think I've ever seen that happen outside of a technical context.

jpindar 5y ago
What else does anyone use the term satellite dish to refer to?
- mumblemumble 5y ago
  Parabolic antennas that are used for terrestrial communication.
- kadoban 5y ago
  Any antenna that's parabolic in shape that isn't designed/used to communicate with a satellite is just called a satellite dish is common usage, but technically really shouldn't be.
  - saltcured 5y ago
    It's funny, I can't recall every hearing anybody say "satellite dish" for a terrestrial antenna in my years in metro and suburban California. I've heard "reflector dish", "dish antenna", "microwave dish", or "directional antenna" (which could also apply to YAGI and other non-dish structures). I wonder if it is regional or has other socioeconomic factors? Actual satellite dishes weren't common structures when I was growing up, outside either a sports bar with satellite TV feeds or more commonly large dishes on industrial, military, or scientific facilities. Other, smaller directional antenna were more commonly seen on radio towers etc.
    - mumblemumble 5y ago
      Probably? One of the subtexts of this article and the ensuing conversation is that English has an absolutely mind-smashing amount of variability in usage. In my general area, just a few hundred kilometers separates two groups of people who are frequently confused by each others' usage of the word "party store." Expanding a hyponym's meaning to encompass that of its hypernym is so common that I'm not even sure it requires special explanation. I've got some family members whose favorite kind of coke is Pepsi.

fidelramos 5y ago

We say "parabólica" in Spain.

YeGoblynQueenne 5y ago
That too (like "periferia") comes to Latinate languages through Latin from Greek. Seems all you nice folk think of Greeks as... posh? Must be all the philosophers :P

tengbretson 5y ago

Meanwhile in America, you will often hear a satellite dish be shortened (incorrectly) to just being called a "satellite." You'll even hear the word "satellite" mis-applied to parabolic antennas that are not directed at an actual satellite!